3    i::  :::--  :^: 


I.  E.  DWINELL 


presented  to  the 

UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
SAN  DIEGO 

by 


MRS.  WILLIAM  F.   BADE 


E.  H,  PIERCE,. 

OLD  BOOK  SHOP, 

2130  Oxford  St., 

Berkeley,      -      CaUf. 


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3  1822  00277  3620 

Israel  Edson  Dwinell,  D.D. 


A    iMEMOIR 


By   Rev.  Henry    E.   Jewett, 


WITH 


SERMONS, 


\V.    B.    HAKU^, 

Publisher, 
Oakland,    Cal. 


CorVRIGHTED,    1892,    BY 
H.     K.    JEVV'ETT. 


From  the  Press  of 

Bacon  &  Company, 

Sau  Francisco,   Cal. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Chapter  I. — Ancestry.  Boyhood.  At  School.  "  The  Lit- 
tle School  Teacher." 7 

Chapter  II. — College  Life.     Conversion.     Covenant.    .  15 

Ch.\pT1vR  III. — In  Tennessee.     Teaching 25 

Chapter  IV.— Theological  Course.    Rebuffs.    Small-Pox. 

Further  Struggles.     Perseverance..  29 

Chapter  V. — Marriage.     Home  Missionary  Service.     At 

Galena  and  Rock  Island 35 

Chapter  VL — Pastorate  in  Salem.   Journal,  iS49-'5i.    .\d- 

vocacy  of  Maine  Law.     Death  of  Child.  43 

Chapter  VII. — Pastorate  in  Salem.  Journal,  1S52.  Re- 
vival. A  Dream.  Vacation.  Expository 
Preaching 53 

Ch.\pTER  VIII. — Pastorate  in  Salem.  Correspondence  : 
The  Pacific,  The  Salem  Register,  The  Congre- 
gaiiotialist.  Advocacy  of  a  General  Confer- 
ence in  Mass.  "A  Northern  Deliverance." 
Hand-to-hand  Work 63 

Chapter  IX. — Pastorate  in  Salem.      Revisits  Jonesboro. 

Visits  from  C.  L.  Goodell 71 

Chapter  X. — Winthrop  Club.  Contributor  to  Bibliotheca 
Sacra  and  New  Englander.  History  of  a  Re- 
jected MS.    Subsequent  Articles.    Extracts. .  .     77 

Chaptick  XI. — Calls  Westward.  Close  of  Salem  Pastor- 
ate.    Tributes 91 

Chapter  XII. — New  Scenes.  Pastorate  at  Sacramento. 
Letter  from  George  Kennan.  Further  Trib- 
utes    1117 

Chapter  XIII. — A  Christian  Citizen.  121 

Chapter  XIV. — An  Institution  Builder.  Pacific  Theolog- 
ical Seminary.  Hopkins  Academy.  Mills 
College 133 


4  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  XV. — A   Christian    Leader.       American    Board. 

National  Council 157 

Chapter  XVI. — Travels  Abroad.  Egypt.  Holy  Land. 
Europe.  Hawaiian  Islands.  Paintings  of  the 
Great  Masters.  Characteristics  of  Foreign 
Cities.       Missions    in     Turkey.       Letters    to 

Grandchildren 16 

Chapter  XVII. — Professorship  at  Oakland.  Home  on 
the   Hill.      Poem.      Methods   of  Instruction. 

Tributes  from  Students 183 

Chapter  XVIII. — Close  of  Life 193 

Chapter  XIX. — Genealogy 199 

Chapter  XX. — "  Appreciated  by  Others."     Tributes....    201 

SERMONS. 

I. — Christianity,  a  Religion  of  Expectancy 223 

II. — The  Assailed  but  Conquering  Book 239 

III. — Property  an  Instrument  for  Moral  Training   253 

IV. — Unconscious  Help  from  God 265 

V. — God's  Saying  Should  be  Our  Doing 273 

VI.—"  Lead  Me  to  the  Rock." 283 

VII. — Church  Fellowship 287 

VIII.— Extracts 313 


INTRODUCTORY. 


"The  eminent  character,  high  position  and  valuable  services 
of  the  late  Dr.  Dvvinell  deserve  a  Memorial,  prepared  with 
superior  care,  and  put  in  a  permanent  form." 

[From  a  report  to   the   General  Association  of  California,  presented   by 
Rev.  George  Mooar,  D.D.,  and  adopted  October,  iHgo.] 

The  following  pages  have  been  prepared  by  one  who 
stood  close  to  Dr.  Dwinell  in  much  of  the  work  of  his 
later  years,  and  w^ho  has  had  access  to  many  records  of 
his  earlier  life.  From  within  the  family  circle  he  has 
known,  loved,  and  honored  him  whose  life  is  here  pre- 
sented. While  the  hand  of  affection  has  held  the  pen, 
there  has  seemed  to  the  writer  no  need  of  lavish  prai.se. 
Those  who  knew  Dr.  Dwinell  have  long  recognized 
his  "eminent  character,  high  position  and  valuable 
services. "  To  those  who  have  not  known  him  he  may 
herein  teach  the  lesson  of  a  noble  Christian  life.  It  is 
hoped,  therefore,  that  this  Memorial  may  be  not  only  a 
memento  of  a  departed  friend,  but  also  a  help  to  tho.se 
who  will  know  him  only  through  this  volume. 

Closely  blended  with  his  life  in  .spirit  and  service  is 
the  life  of  one  dear  to  him,  whom  children  and  grand- 
children delight  to  honor,  and  whose  Autumn  is  as  the 
sunshine  of  Summer. 

To  her  this  book  is  dedicated. 

H.  I-:.  JI'.WICTT. 
Vacaville,  Cal.,  Nov.  3,  1S92. 


"  To  tell  of  such  a  life  all  words  are  weak, 

And  song  and  eloquence  are  dumb 
In  presence  of  those  deeds  that  make  the  sum 

Of  his  humanity.     His  records  speak 
Unto  us  like  the  fragrance  of  a  breath 

Of  holy  incense  from  the  house  of  Death, 
And  lift  our  spirit  to  that  purer  sky, 

Not  earth's,  nor  heavens  ;  but  some  medial  sphere 
Where  he  seemed  lifted,  treading  as  on  high 

A  loftier  citadel,  with  vision  clear. 
Seeing  by  lights,  divinely  poised  above 

The  depths  of  sin  and  sorrow  lying  low. 
Yet  found  no  depths  too  deep  for  his  Christ-love. 

Rome,  'mid  her  saints,  none  saintlier  could  show." 


ISRAEL  EDSON  DWINELL. 

CHAPTlvR    I. 

ANCESTRY.        BOYHOOD. 

Reverent  recognition  of  God  and  gratitude  to  Him 
for  the  ' '  Outward  Estate  y^  God  hath  given  mee  ' '  char- 
acterized Michael  Dunneh  the  Huguenot,  first  of  the 
Dwinell  famih'  in  America.  He  came  to  this  countrv 
after  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  in  16S5, 
while  others  of  the  family  settled  in  England.  "The 
family,"  we  are  told  upon  good  authority,  "  bear  the 
title  of  Count,  and  were  seated  in  France,  near  Ro- 
chelle. " 

Israel  Edson  Dwinell  belonged  to  the  seventh 
generation,  being  the  son  of  Israel,  who  was  the 
son  of  Archelaus,  Jr.  Archelaus,  Sr.,  was  the  son  of 
Jonathan,  who  was  the  son  of  Thomas,  fourth  of  the 
nine  children  of  Michael. 

Throughout  these  generations,  during  a  period  of 
over  two  hundred  years,  there  appear  evidences  of 
Christian  faith,  patriotism,  personal  worth,  and  a  fair 
degree,  at  least,  of  worldly  prosperity. 

Coming  to  America  in  his  early  manhood,  Michael 
Dunnel  lived  in  Massachusetts,  dying,  as  is  supposed, 
at  Topsfield,  in  17 17. 

Scarcely  any  two  of  his  children  spelled  the  family 


8  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

name  like  their  father,  or  like  each  other.  Duenell, 
Doenell,  Dunell,  and  Dwinell  are  some  of  the  names  by 
which  the  births  of  his  children  are  entered  on  the  rec- 
ords of  Essex  Co.,  Mass. 

During  the  French  and  Indian  and  the  Revolutionarj- 
wars,  the  name  in  some  of  its  many  forms  appears  often 
on  the  rolls  of  the  country's  defenders.     Israel  Dwinell 
first  appears  in  the  third  generation,  in  the  person  of  a 
young  patriot,  who  yielded  up  his  life  at  the  battle  of 
Crown  Point  in  1760.     Later  on  in  the  generations,  six 
by  the  name  of  Israel  are  found,  one  of  whom  was  the 
father  of  Dr.   Dwinell.     This  good  man  lived  to  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years.    It  was  said  of  him 
at  his  funeral :    "  He  was  one  of  a  very  few  old  men, 
whose  bodies  have  not  outlived  their  minds.     He  re- 
tained in  a  remarkable  degree  the  strong  mental  powers 
which  were  his  natural  endowment.    For  him  the  win- 
ter of  age  was  not  a  time  of  fruitlessness.     When  he 
felt  that  mortal  disease  was  upon  him,  and  realized  that 
through   suffering   he   must   be  born    into  the  life  of 
Heaven,  he  said,  '  Pray  that  God's  will — not  mine — 
be  done. '  "     It  was  a  state  of  mind  that  reappeared  in 
yet  more  marked  degree  of  sweetness  and  resignation 
in  the  closing  days  of  his  son,  whose  life  these  pages 
commemorate.     Dr.  Dwinell's  mother,  Phila  (Oilman) 
Dwinell,  was  a  woman  of  beautiful  character  and  of 
superior   intelligence.     Like    her   husband,    she    was 
"  strong  in  the  faith  of  the  gospel."     At  every  remem- 
brance of  her,    ' '  her  children   arise  up   and    call  her 
blessed." 

To  such  an  ancestry  Israel  Edson  Dwinell  did 
honor.  The  best  they  had  to  transmit  he  appropri- 
ated. The  best  that  was  in  him,  whether  inherited  or 
acquired,  he  imparted  to  all  around  him. 


a 
w 


ANCKSTRV.       BOYHOOD.  g 

His  birth-place  was  Calais,  Vermont,  a  town  that 
has  given  to  the  Congregational  Ministry  Rev.  Na- 
thaniel G.  Clark,  D.D.,  the  honored  Senior  Secretary 
of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 
Missions,  and  the  late  Rev.  ConstansL,.  Goodell,  D.D., 
a  beloved  pastor  of  Pilgrim  Church  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri. The  part  of  the  town  known  as  Kast  Calais 
was  the  home  of  the  Dwinsll  family  from  the  time 
when  Israel  Dwnnell,  then  a  young  man,  brought  to 
the  great  house  on  the  hill  his  Marshfield  bride. 

This  homestead  is  a  typical  New  England  house 
of  early  times.  It  is  a  large  two-story  building,  with 
generous  attic.  The  hardwood  frame  is  covered  with 
half-inch  boards,  over  which  are  clapboards,  unpaint- 
ed,  and  in  these  later  3'ears  shrunken  and  blackened 
by  sunshine  and  rain.  Up  through  the  center  of  the 
roof  protrudes  a  great  chimney,  with  its  five  flues.  In 
each  of  the  many  windows  are  twenty-four  lights  of 
glass.  The  outer  doors  are  reached  over  stone  door- 
steps. The  round  cat-hole  near  the  bottom  of  the  side 
door,  the  knocker  on  the  front  door,  the  treasures  of 
the  attic,  the  iron  latches,  the  chimney  cupboards,  the 
brick  oven  and  immense  fire-place,  the  wainscotted 
walls  in  the  "  East  "  and  "  West  Square  Rooms,"  and 
the  generous  buttefy,  —  all  have  a  charm  to  one  unac- 
customed to  such  old  buildings. 

This  great  house  and  the  hilly  farm  on  which  it 
stood  were  bought  by  Dr.  Dwinell's  father  while  yet 
unmarried.  To  this  home  he  brought  his  bride.  Here, 
together,  they  reared  a  large  family,  five  of  whom  sur- 
vive—  all  of  whom  have  proved  worthy  of  their  faith- 
ful and  honored  parents. 

Of  the  ten  children  in  the  family,  the  subject  of  this 
memorial  was  the  fourth. 


lO  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

It  was  to  his  mother  that  Dr.  Dwinell  was  chieflj^  in- 
debted for  the  impetus  given  to  his  intellectual  aspira- 
tions, lyike  all  other  New  England  boys  of  that  time, 
he  attended  "  the  little  red  school-house  "  in  winter, 
and  worked  on  his  father's  farm  in  summer  ;  but  there 
were  long  winter  evenings  then,  as  now,  and  though 
East  Calais  was  but  a  hamlet,  where  active  men  culti- 
vated the  ungenerous  soil,  or  chopped  down  for  winter 
fires  the  beech  and  birch,  and  made  sugar  from  the 
maple,  and  v/here  industrious  women  added  to  their 
household  duties  the  spinning  of  flax  and  wool,  the 
little  village  among  the  hills  had  its  public  librarj', 
modest  indeed,  yet  of  unspeakable  value  to  such  as  had 
any  aspirations  after  knowledge.  The  mother  encour- 
aged his  love  of  books,  guided  his  tastes,  and  favored 
his  plans  for  further  study.  It  was  a  not  uncommon 
event  for  him  to  be  ensconsed  in  some  corner,  absorbed 
in  a  book,  while  others  of  the  family  were  "  doing  the 
chores."  If  the  natural  inquiry  was  raised,  "Why 
can't  Edson  do  this?  "  the  mother's  read}^  repl}-  was, 
"Oh,  Edson  is  reading." 

His  sister  says  : — "  I  have  heard  mother  tell  of  his 
great  love  for  reading  when  he  was  a  mere  boy, — often 
telling  her,  when  the  boys  in  the  neighborhood  came 
for  a  game  of  '  goal  '  on  moonlight  winter  evenings, 
that  he  would  greatly  prefer  to  stay  in  the  house  and 
read.  Often  he  would  go  out  with  the  others,  and  after 
a  little  slip  away  quietly,  come  into  the  house,  and  take 
the  book.  At  the  circulating  library  he  obtained  works 
which  he  read  with  avidity.  I  remember  mother's 
speaking  of  Rollin's  History,  which  he  read  with  great 
interest. " 

This  love  of  books  and  of  study  was  characteristic  of 
him  through  all  his  life. 


ANCESTRY.       BOYHOOD.  1 1 

A  choice  volume  was  like  a  rare  apple.  Its  seeds  of 
fresh  thought  were  cherished,  planted  in  his  intellect 
and  heart,  springing  up  with  characteristics  of  his  own 
clear  generalization,  and  bearing  fruit  for  the  nourish- 
ment and  pleasure  of  other  minds.  His  library,  in 
after  years,  contained  no  one  class  of  books,  but  repre- 
sented a  wide  range  of  subjects. 

Amidst  the  usual  occupations  and  recreations  of  a 
Green  Mountain  boy,  the  lad  persevered  in  the  direc- 
tion of  an  intellectual  life.  It  was  through  persever- 
ance that  he  won.  It  is  told  of  him  that  on  a  certain 
day  one  of  his  school-mates,  a  fast  runner,  challenged 
the  boys  of  the  district  to  catch  him.  "  All  went  for 
him,  Edson  among  them.  One  by  one  the  boys  gave 
up,  but  Edson  persevered,  and  succeeded  in  catching 
him,  after  two  hours'  running,  by  tiring  him  entirely 
out.  It  being  the  last  day  of  school,  their  punishment 
for  absence  from  the  school-room  was  postponed  indef- 
initely." By  a  like  persistence,  this  thoughtful,  studi- 
ous boy,  whose  life  engages  our  attention,  pursued  the 
object  of  his  ambition,  until  he  entered  upon  his  life 
work  a  liberall3^  educated  gentleman. 

When  he  had  finished  his  studies  at  the  district  school, 
he  entered  the  Academy  at  Randolph  Center,  Vt.,  and 
began  to  prepare  for  college.  He  was  now  in  his  six- 
teenth j-ear.  From  1836  to  1839  he  pursued  his  studies 
first  at  Randolph,  and  later  at  the  Academy  in  Mont- 
pelier,  where  he  graduated,  prepared  for  a  college 
course. 

This  matter  of  an  education  was,  however,  a  serious 
business  to  him  and  to  his  father.  A  New  I{ngland 
farmer  of  those  days,  if  blessed  with  sons,  could  ill 
afford  to  spare  one  of  them  during  his  minority  ;  nor 
was  it  regarded  as  just  to  the  other  boys  in  a  family  that 


12  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

their  time  should  be  claimed  by  the  father,  while  one 
"  set  up  for  himself,"  or  gave  himself  to  study.  There- 
fore, following  a  custom  then  prevalent,  young  Edson, 
at  some  time  subsequent  to  his  first  leaving  home, 
"  bought  his  time  of  his  father,  "  that  is,  paid,  or  gave 
his  written  promise  to  pay,  to  his  father  a  certain 
amount,  by  which  he  was  released  from  any  further 
claim  that  his  parents  had  upon  his  time  during  his 
minorit}". 

This  buying  of  his  time  laid  upon  the  young  student 
an  indebtedness  which  he  carried  for  several  3'ears  after 
completing  his  college  course,  an  obligation  willingl}- 
carried,  and  scrupulously  discharged. 

Buj'ing  his  time  left  him  free  to  act  for  himself,  but 
it  did  not  pay  his  tuition  and  board  bills,  either  in  the 
Academ^^  or  at  the  College.  We  find  him,  therefore, 
teaching  a  district  school  in  his  native  town  the  first 
winter  after  beginning  his  studies  at  Randolph.  Appli- 
cation was  duly  made  for  the  school  in  the  ' '  next  dis- 
trict. "  The  post  master  was  asked  to  canvass  the 
neighborhood,  and  he  returned  the  following  favorable 
reply,  not  forgetting  to  give  weight  to  his  communica- 
tion by  signing  himself  "Jonas  Hall,  p.  m. " 

Calais,  January  15th,  1837. 
Dear  Sir  :  —  I  received  yours  of  the  14th  And  read  it 
with  pleasure.  I  have  Seen  a  considerable  part  of  the 
District  And  They  appear  to  Be  Satisfyed  with  Your 
Son's  Comming  to  Teach  the  School.  I  will  assist  him 
in  everything  that  Lays  in  my  power.  I  will  Send 
after  him  Towards  night. 
Sir, 

Your  most  Obedient  Servent, 
IssRAEL  DwiNEL  Esq.  Jonas  Hall,  p.  m." 


ANCESTRY.       BOYHOOD.  1 3 

The  boy  was  but  sixteen  ^-ears  old,  and  was  known 
as  "  the  little  school-teacher, "  3-et  he  gave  satisfaction. 
He  was  in  honor  even  ' '  in  his  own  country. ' ' 

The  following  winter  he  taught  in  Montpelier.  In 
this  way  by  alternate  study  and  teaching  he  accom- 
plished the  first  stage  of  his  educational  journey,  and 
in  the  autumn  of  1839  began  the  second  stage  as 
a  Freshman  at  the  Universit>-  of  \"erniont  at  Burling- 
ton. 


CHAPTER   II. 

COLLEGE    LIFE. 

College  life  he  seems  to  have  enjoyed  thoroughly. 
The  records  of  those  years  are  meagre,  but  they  indi- 
cate that  much  hard  work  was  done,  and  that  in  the 
earlier  part  of  the  course  he  shared  in  the  usual  scenes 
of  jollity  and  mirth  with  which  the  majority  of  coUege 
boys  are  familiar. 

"He  was  universally  esteemed  by  the  students," 
writes  Rev.  J.  G.  Hale,  whose  acquaintance  with  Mr. 
Dwinell  began  in  college,  "  as  a  man  of  unimpeachable 
character,  a  gentleman  and  a  scholar.  The  lead  of  the 
class  in  scholarship  lay  between  him  and  Albert  H. 
Bailey,  of  Poultnc}-,  who  became  an  Episcopal  clergy- 
man. The  class  as  a  whole  were  not  very  staid  and 
stead}',  but  Dwinell,  Jones  and  Bailey  were  always  reli- 
able and  irreproachable." 

Here  and  there,  among  the  fragmentary  records  of 
those  da^^s,  we  obtain  glimpses  of  the  young  man  work- 
ing his  upward  way. 

"1839.  At  home  until  Dec.  9th,  and  then  com- 
menced my  school,  during  which  I  boarded  round  the 
district. ' ' 

"  1842.  From  Dec.  6th,  1841,  till  Feb.  2,  I  taught 
district  school." 

"  1842.     Roomed  in  No.  6,  N.  C,  with  Hutchinson." 

During  his  college  course  he  was  a  member  of  the 
"University  Institute,"  one  of  the  College  Societies. 


1 6  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

As  the  college  course  drew  near  its  close,  the  intens- 
ity of  his  struggle  to  maintain  himself  financially  in- 
creased. Devoted  and  self-sacrificing  parents  had  sup- 
plemented, as  they  were  able,  his  own  limited  resources 
secured  through  teaching,  bvit  in  his  Senior  Year  the 
situation  began  to  grow  desperate.  Those  who  knew 
him  well  can  appreciate  the  urgency  of  the  situation, 
which  would  lead  him  to  appeal  to  any  one  outside  his 
own  family  for  aid  ;  but  with  his  diploma  almost  in 
sight  the  question  stared  him  in  the  face  whether  or 
not  he  could  finish  his  course  without  further  assistance. 

On  the  sixth  of  February,  1843,  with  many  misgiv- 
ings, he  addressed  the  following  letter  to  a  gentleman 
of  means  : 

"Mr.   H , 


' '  Dear  Sir  :  —  I  write  this  communication  under  cir- 
cumstances of  pecuniar}'  embarrassment.  My  object 
is  to  seek  relief. 

' '  I  have  now  been  three  years  and  a  half  a  member  of 
the  Universit}'  ;  and  up  to  the  commencement  of  the 
present  college  year,  by  industry,  economy,  and,  above 
all,  kindness  of  beloved  parents,  I  have  struggled  ever 
on,  and  incurred  small  liabilities.  But  since  then, 
owing  to  the  hardness  of  the  times,  embarrassment  of 
friends,  and  various  unexpected  disappointments,  I 
have  been  thrown  entirely'  upon  my  own  resources, 
which  are  now  nowise  fruitful. 

' '  With  such  destitution  of  means  on  the  one  hand,  and 
with  necessary  expenses  every  where  staving  me  in 
the  face  on  the  other,  what  else  can  I  do  but  seek  some 
kind  and  liberal-hearted  man  to  step  forth  and  relieve 
me  from  my  temporary  embarrassment  ?  To  him  it 
might  not  in  the  end  be  any  loss  ;  to  me  it  would  be 


COLLEGE   LIFE.  1 7 

great  gain.  And  to  what  nobler  and  better  purpose 
can  wealth  be  appropriated, than  to  assist  and  encourage 
those  who  are  struggling  unequally  with  blind  fortune. 
and  who  onh'  need  the  use  of  money  for  a  limited  period 
in  order  to  realize  what  once  appeared  the  visionary 
dreams  of  their  youth — to  be  prepared  for  lives  of  more 
extended  usefulness,  and  to  assist  according  to  what  in 
them  lies  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  purposes  of  the 
Most  High  ? 

"  Under  such  circumstances,  and  under  the  influence 
of  such  feelings,  I  have  been  led  to  address  this  note  to 
you  as  the  person  most  likely  to  afford  me  assistance, 
wishing  with  more  earnestness  of  feeling  than  I  dare 
attempt  to  express  that  you  would  furnish  me  for  a 
single  year  with  one  hundred  dollars.  I  expect  to 
teach, and  trust  when  that  time  arrives,  God  being  my 
helper,  I  shall  be  able  to  render  back  to  thee  '  thine 
own  with  usurj'.'  Fort}'  dollars  I  want  before  the 
twenty-fifth  of  March  —  the  remainder  before  Com- 
mencement. My  father,  in  a  lace  letter,  has  kindly 
offered  to  sign  with  me,  so  that  in  case  of  any  of  those 
unforseen  accidents  which  befall  one,  you  would  be 
ultimately  secure. 

"  If  you  wish  to  make  any  inquiries,  that  you  may 

not  lavish  your  assistance  unworthily,  you  can  freely 

consult  any  of  my  acquaintance,  and  particularly  any 

of  the  Faculty. 

****** 

"  Yours  with  sincere  regard, 

"I.  E.   DWINELL." 

This  letter,  more  than  an}'  other  thing  that  is  pre- 
served of  that  period,  reveals  the  spirit  of  the  young 
man  while  in  college.     His  letter  is  not  an  unmitigated 


l8  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

request  for  charity.  It  appeals  to  the  charitable  spirit 
of  a  man  of  means,  but  its  basis  is  a  safe  business  prop- 
osition. The  style  is  direct.  The  situation  at  home 
and  at  college  is  frankly  avowed.  Confidence  in  the 
favorable  judgment  of  faculty  and  fellow-students  indi- 
cates his  owni  self-respect,  while  the  urgency  with 
which  he  presents  his  plea  reveals  the  financial  strug- 
gle he  was  passing  through. 

Disappointment  awaited  him.  In  place  of  the  bread 
his  famished  soul  craved,  he  received  a  stone.  This 
was  the  size  of  it  :  — 

"Feb.  7th,  1843. 
"Mr.  Dwinell, 

' '  Sir  :  —  The  scarcity  of  money  renders  it  difficult  for 

me  to  collect  money  to  meet  taxes  and  the  necessary 

expenses  of  my  famil3\     I  cannot,  therefore,  grant  the 

favour  you  ask  ;  and  the  advances  expected  of  n:e  by 

my  children  will  probabh'  make  it  out  of  my  power  to 

loan  monc}^  to  any  person  during  my  sojourn  in  this 

life. 

' '  Respectfully  j^ours, 

"S H ." 

How  this  rebuff  was  received,  many  another  strug- 
gling 3-oung  man  in  our  colleges  and  seminaries  who 
has  had  like  hopes  dashed  to  earth  can  understand. 

The  University  of  Vermont  did  not  then  have  in 
beneficiary  funds  for  worthy  students  its  thousands  of 
dollars,  nor  any  other  college  its  present  large  amount 
of  funded  scholarships.  If,  with  such  aid,  the  needy 
student  of  today  must  toil  painfullj%  alpenstock  in 
hand,  up  the  steeps  of  a  college  course,  we  can  com- 
prehend what  it  meant  a  half  centurj^  ago  to  ascend 
the  same  heights  with  no  alpenstock,  and  in  the  face 
of  falling  stones. 


COLLEGE    LIFE.  1 9. 

The  crisis,  referred  to  in  the  letters  above,  was  in 
some  way  met,  and  the  college  course  was  ended  in 
the  autumn  of  1843.  Another  crisis  more  momentous^ 
more  happy  in  its  results,  marking  an  epoch  in  the  his- 
torj^  of  a  noble  nature,  occurred  in  the  middle  of  Dr. 
Dwinell's  junior  year  in  college.  With  all  the  ambi- 
tion of  a  student,  he  had  lacked  until  then  the  Chris- 
tian motive  which  thereafter  for  nearly  fifty  years  gave 
direction  to  his  intellectual  powers.  His  parents  were 
Christians  "  of  the  old  Puritan  stamp.  "  Some  of  their 
children  remember  the  meetings  held  by  the  old  First 
Church,  organized  in  1810,  and  reorganized  in  1824,  to 
which  their  father  and  mother  belonged.  "  I  recall," 
says  one,  "  the  general  meetings  held  in  barns  (we  had 
no  church  building),  and  the  great  interest  taken  on 
those  occasions.  Monthly  meetings  were  often  held  at 
our  house.  The  religious  element  was  far  greater  then 
than  at  the  present  time."  It  seems  to  be  unques- 
tioned, however,  that  an  irreligious  and  worldly  influ- 
ence prevailed  among  many  of  the  people,  giving  its 
character  to  the  town.  Amidst  these  diverse  moral  in- 
fluences young  Edson  grew  up,  ' '  trained  to  good  hab- 
its and  inspired  with  noble  ambitions,"  like  his  con- 
temporaries, Rev.  N.  G.  Clark,  D.D.,  and  the  late  Rev. 
C.  L.  Goodell,  D.D.,  both  natives  of  Calais  ;  but  like 
them  entering  college  —  the  same  college  —  with  the 
question  of  a  Christian  life  unsolved,  and.  more,  the 
consideration  of  it  neglected.  For  nearly  three  years 
he  gave  no  heed  to  whatever  convictions  he  may  have 
had,  nor  to  the  pleading  of  faithful  friends.  That  he 
had  at  least  one  such  friend  is  seen  in  letters  that  he 
has  preserved  from  his  classmate  in  freshman  year,  P. 
F.  Barnard,  who,  after  removing  to  Dartmouth  College^ 
in  more  than  one  letter  pointedly  and  faithfully  direct*^ 


20  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

his  friend  to  Christ.  "Let  us  often  put  to  ourselves 
the  question,  and  ponder  it  well,  '  What  will  it  profit 
us  if  we  gain  the  whole  world  and  lose  our  own  souls  ?  ' 
Friend  D.,  I  hope  you  will  express  3'our  mind  freely 
upon  this  subject.  We  are,  I  trust,  friends,  and  as 
such  can  express  to  each  other  our  views  and  feelings 
confidently  and  freelj'." 

And  again:  "I  trust,  dear  friend,  these  things  oc- 
cupy a  prominent  place  in  your  reflections.  Consider, 
ponder  and  decide.  The  Word  of  God  is  with  you. 
Make  it  your  study  and  obey  it." 

What  his  replies  to  these  appeals  were  we  do  not 
know,  but  in  time  there  came  the  full  surrender  to 
God,  the  consecration  of  all  his  powers  to  the  service 
of  the  lyord  Jesus  Christ. 

So  unreserved  was  this  consecration,  that  he  wrote 
out  and  preserved  till  his  life  closed  what  he  calls  his 
"Self  Dedication."  It  marks  the  beginning  of  a 
Christian  life  that  grew  more  and  more  beneficent  and 
Christ-like  until  it  passed  beyond  earthly  scenes. 

After  an  introduction  somewhat  general  in  its  char- 
acter, he  proceeds  :  ' '  Great  God  !  be  with  me  when  I 
say  it  is  2^  privilege  for  me  to  be  a  follower  of  the  meek 
and  lowly  Lamb.  Be  with  me,  for  I  would  dedicate 
myself  iimnediately  to  thy  service.  Be  with  me,  for  I 
would  devote  myself  entirely  to  thy  glory.  Be  wnth 
me,  Heavenly  Father,  while  I  commence  thy  eternal 
service  with  a  solemn  self-dedication. 

' '  King  of  Heaven  and  Earth  !  Great  God  !  This 
day,  the  eighth  of  April,  1842,  do  I  surrender  myself 
to  thee.  I  renounce  all  former  lords  that  have  had 
dominion  over  me  ;  and  I  consecrate  to  thee  all  that  I 
am  and  all  that  I  have,  the  faculties  of  my  mind,  the 
members    of  my    bod}^   vs\y    worldly   possessions,   my 


COLLEGE   IJFE.  21 

time  and  my  influence  over  others  ;  to  be  all  used  en- 
tirely for  thy  glory,  resolutely  employed  in  obedience 
to  thy  commands,  as  long  as  thou  continuest  me  in 
life  ;  with  an  ardent  desire  and  humble  resolution  to 
continue  thine  through  all  the  endless  ages  of  eternity  ; 
ever  holding  myself  in  an  attentive  posture  to  obseive 
the  first  intimations  of  thy  will,  and  ready  to  spring 
forward  with  zeal  and  joy  to  the  immediate  execution 
of  it. 

"  To  thy  direction  I  also  resign  myself  and  all  that 
I  am  and  have,  to  be  disposed  of  by  thee  in  such  a 
manner  as  thou  shalt,  in  thy  infinite  goodness  and  wis- 
dom, judge  most  subservient  to  the  purposes  of  thy 
glory.  To  thee  I  leave  the  management  of  all  events, 
and  say,  without  reserve,  '  Not  my  will,  but  thine  be 
done, '  rejoicing  with  a  loyal  heart  in  thy  unlimited 
government,  as  what  ought  to  be  the  delight  of  the 
whole  rational  creation. 

' '  Use  me,  O  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  as  an  instrument  of 
thy  servdce  !  Number  me  among  thy  peculiar  people. 
lyCt  me  be  washed  in  the  blood  of  thy  dear  Son!  Let 
me  be  clothed  with  his  righteousness!  Let  me  be 
sanctified  b}'  his  Spirit.  Transform  me  more  and 
more  into  his  image.  Impart  to  me,  through  him,  all 
needed  influences  of  thj^  purifying,  cheering  and  com- 
forting Spirit,  and  let  my  life  be  spent  under  those  in- 
fluences and  in  the  light  of  thy  gracious  countenance, 
as  my  Father  and  my  God! 

"  And  when  the  solemn  hour  of  death  comes,  may  I 
remember  thy  COVENANT  '  well  ordered  in  all  things 
and  sure,  as  all  my  salvation  and  all  my  desire, "  and 
do  thou.  Lord,  remember  it  too.  Then  look  down  with 
pity  on  thy  languishing,  dying  child!  Embrace  me  in 
thine  everlasting  arms!     Put  strength  and  confidence 


2  2  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

in  my  departing  spirit,  and  receive  it  to  the  abodes  of 
them  that  sleep  in  Jesus,  peacefulh^  and  joyfully  to 
await  the  accomplishment  of  th}'  great  promise  to  all 
thy  people,  even  that  of  a  glorious  resurrection  and  of 
eternal  happiness  in  thine  heavenly  presence!  Amen. 
"  Calling  thee,  Great  God,  to  witnesss,  I. subscribe  to 
the  above. 

' '  Israel  Edson  Dwinell.  ' ' 

This  covenant  reveals  his  familiarity  with  the  writ- 
ings of  Philip  Doddridge,  whose  "  Rise  and  Progress  of 
Religion  in  the  Soul  "  furnishes  the  basis  and  to  some 
extent  the  form  of  this  self-dedication.  Introspection 
was  characteristic  of  this  young  Christian,  not  only  at 
the  beginning,  but  also  through  all  the  earlier  years  of 
his  religious  life.  This  habit,  so  natural  to  a  deeply 
thoughtful  nature,  was  doubtless  encouraged  by  his 
frequent  reading  of  an  author  whose  language  is :  —  "I 
am  ver}^  sensible,  and  I  desire  that  you  maybe  so,  how 
great  danger  there  is  of  self-flattery  *  *  and  how 
necessary  it  is  to  caution  men  against  too  hasty  a  con- 
clusion that  they  are  reall}-  converted,  because  they 
have  felt  some  warm  emotions  on  their  minds.  Inquire 
seriously  what  views  you  have  had  of  sin,  and  what 
sentiments  you  have  felt  in  j'our  soul  with  regard  to 
it. ' '  These  and  like  sentiments  are  recorded  often  in 
journals  kept  by  Dr.  Dwinell,  from  the  time  of  his  con- 
version till  near  the  close  of  the  pastorate  in  Salem. 
His  conversion  was,  in  very  truth,  a  self-surrender  to 
God.  For  forty-seven  years  his  life  was  an  exposition 
of  his  self-dedication. 

He  began  the  Christian  life,  and  united  with  the  P'irst 
Congregational  Church  in  Burlington,  when  twenty-one 
years   of  age.     All    the    years   of  his   majority  were 


COLLEGE    LIFE.  23 

marked  by  a  loyalty  to  Christ  that  kept  him  in  close 
companionship  with  the  Captain  of  Salvation. 

College  days  came  to  an  end  in  August,  1843.  Mr. 
Dwinell  had  an  appointment  at  Commencement.  His 
quondam  classmate  Durant,  writing  facetiously  from 
Montpelier,  says  : — "  You  have  my  best  wishes  that  you 
may  not  upon  the  stage  be  seized  with  any  bad  symp- 
toms of  palpitation  of  the  heart,  or  such  like  unpleasant 
thing.  Remember,  you  are  speaking  for  your  life.  Rise, 
therefore,  with  the  occasion,  and  confront  your  masters, 
who,  too  many  of  them,  can't  tell  merit  from  a  crow's 
nest.  Bluster,  sir,  and  swagger,  and  look  wise  ;  and  if 
you  can't  cheat  your  own  consciousness,  5'ou  can  the 
audience,  and  that's  enough. 

*'  You  know  who  writes  this,  and  will,  of  course,  par- 
don the  license  I  take,  for  I  do  but  partake  of  the  gen- 
eral contagion." 


CHAPTER   III. 

IX    TENNESSEE.      TEACHING. 

Immediately  after  graduating,  Mr.  Dwinell  began 
preparations  for  a  jovirney  to  Tennessee.  Through  his 
friend  Charles  C.  Parker,  he  came  into  communication 
with  Mr.  William  T.  Herrick,  (now  Rev.  W.  T.  Her- 
rick,  of  Castleton,  Vt.j.  Mr.  Herrick  was  then  Princi- 
pal of  Martin  Acadeni3%  at  Jonesboro,  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Tennessee.  An  engagement  was  entered  into 
between  the  trustees  and  Mr.  Dwinell,  that  he  should 
take  a  position  as  teacher  in  the  Academy.  In  accept- 
ing this  position,  he  turned  his  back  upon  an  opening 
near  home,  that  in  the  eyes  of  those  who  offered  it 
doubtless  seemed  to  have  superior  attractions  ;  but  to 
the  college  graduate  of  todaj^,  if  not  to  the  B.  A.  of 
1843,  one  dollar  a  da)^  ("less  if  j^ou  can")  for  twelve 
weeks,  with  board  in  as  many  families  as  there  were 
weeks,  would  not  seem  especially  desirable. 

"Marshfield,  July  24,  1843. 
' '  I  learnt  this  day  that  you  had  engaged  to  go  to  the 
South,  to  teach  in  an  Academ5%  to  my  regret,  so  far  as 
our  school  is  concerned.  *  *  *  As  you  wrote  to 
me  that  j^ou  would  obtain  a  teacher  for  us,  I  would  re- 
quest you  to  do  so,  and  a'OU  will  much  oblige  us  if  you 
will  obtain  a  first-rate  teacher,  if  you  can,  for  one  dol- 
lar per  day  (we  board  him),  less  if  you  can,  say  sixty 
dollars  for  twelve  weeks,  but  not  to  send  us  a  second- 
3 


26  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

rate  one  for  the  sake  of  saving  a  few  dollars.  *  *  * 
It  would  be  impossible  forme  to  describe  such  a  teacher 
as  we  want.  We  should  prefer  one  who  has  gradu- 
ated, for  if  he  should  have  the  good  fortune  to  please 
the  people,  it  is  possible  we  might  employ  him  twenty- 
four  weeks.    However,  that  would  be  quite  uncertain. 

' '  Yours  respectfull}^ 

"J C ." 

"  P.  S.  —  If  it  turns  out  that  I  am  wronglj-  informed 
as  to  your  engagement,  we  should  give  3'ou  something 
more  than  a  dollar  per  da5^" 

It  was  not  with  the  purpose  of  entering  upon  teach- 
ing as  a  life-work  that  Mr.  Dwinell  turned  toward  the 
South.  His  first  thought,  afttr  leaving  Burlington, 
was  to  pay  the  debts  incurred  in  obtaining  his  educa- 
tion. The  time  bought  of  his  father  was  yet  to  be  paid 
for,  and  funds  must  be  secured  to  enable  him  to  pursue 
his  professional  studies,  for  already  this  consecrated 
soul  looked  forward  to  the  Ministry  as  his  chosen  work 
for  life. 

It  was  a  long  journe}'  in  those  days  from  Vermont 
to  Tennessee.  It  was  made  in  large  part  by  stage 
coach  and  packet,  and  occupied  many  days. 

At  Jonesboro  he  taught  for  eighteen  months  in  the 
Academ}^  already  referred  to.  These  were  eventful 
months  for  him.  From  the  far  North,  from  a  State  on 
whose  fair  name  had  never  rested  the  shadow  of  slav- 
ery, and  whose  people  represented  the  Puritan  frugal- 
ity and  industry,  he  came,  a  young  man,  to  a  commu- 
nity' where  slaves  were  in  every  home,  where  northern 
sentiment  was  regarded  with  aversion,  but  where 
social  life  was  extremely  attractive.  Under  such  cir- 
cumstances, the  young  teacher  from  the  North  needed 


IN    TENNESSEE.       TEACHING. 


27 


wisdom  and  discretion.  They  were  given  him.  He 
won  the  life-long  friendship  of  his  Principal.  He 
gained  the  esteem  of  his  pupils.  He  obtained  the  con- 
fidence of  the  community.  But  that  which  meant 
more  to  him  than  all  else  will  appear,  clothed  in  his 
own  language,  in  the  following  extract  from  "  Birthday 
Thoughts,"  written  in  1844  :  — 

"I  am  this  day  twenty-four.  *  *  *  During 
the  past  year  I  have  been  highly  blessed.  *  *  * 
Our  school  has  been  pleasant,  and  there  have  been 
fewer  occurrences  than  usual,  perhaps,  to  mar  the 
pleasure  of  teaching.  I  think  our  labors  have  been 
prospered,  though  the  school  is  not  large.  I  have  been 
very  happy  in  the  society  of  Mr.  Herri ck,  whether  as 
fellow-laborer  or  companion.  I  have  an  excellent 
boarding  place,  which  is  almost  everything  in  the  way 
of  a  su!  stitute  for  home.  I  am  on  the  whole  verj-  well 
pleased  with  Jonesboro.  To  be  sure,  it  is  a  place  of 
some  little  gossip,  and  some  little  freedom  of  speech 
that  now  and  then  proves  unpleasant.  But  I  think 
they  do  not  hold  me  so  often  between  their  teeth  now 
as  formerly, 

"  But,  also,  during  the  year  other  and  more  cheering 
prospects  have  dawned  upon  me.  A  new  relation, 
though  a  very  natural  one,  has  sprung  up,  and  may 
3'et,  under  the  blessing  of  Providence,  ripen  into  fruit. 
Around  this  hope  hang,  in  rich  clusters,  some  of  the 
brightest  visions  of  my  life  —  brighter  than  night- 
dreams.  This  fact  ot  love  has  tinged  all  the  past,  with 
which  it  has  been  connected,  with  beautiful  tints  of 
gold  and  purple.  *  *  *  A  year  that  has  smiled 
thus,  must  I  not  hold  it  in  remembrance?  " 

This  "  fact  of  love  "  brought  southern  sunshine  into 
all  the  remaining  years  of  his  life.     Among  the  homes 


28  iskap;l  edson  dwinell. 

where  Mr.  Dwinell  was  made  welcome  during  his  res- 
idence in  Jonesboro,  were  those  of  Mr.  Samuel  Max- 
well and  his  wife  Hester  (Greer)  Maxwell,  and  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  John  Yancy,  she  being  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Maxwell.  Prominent  in  the  social  and  religious 
activities  of  the  village,  the  familj^  made  their  homes 
attractive  places  to  their  friends.  It  was  in  this  pleas- 
ant circle  that  Mr.  Dwinell  met  and  won  Miss  Rebecca 
K.  A.  Maxwell,  one  of  the  daughters. 

Of  his  life  and  work  in  Jonesboro,  Rev.  Mr.  Her- 
rick,  writing  from  Castleton,  Vt.,  in  1891,  says  :  "I 
found  him  a  verj-  genial  and  faithful  associate  in  teach- 
ing and  managing  a  new  Academy.  He  gave  himself, 
heart  and  soul,  to  his  work,  and  easily  won  the  respect, 
esteem  and  love  of  our  students,  their  parents  and 
friends,  the  people  of  the  place,  and  specially  of  Miss 
Rebecca  Maxwell,  his  good  and  helpful  wife,  during 
a  long  and  ver}'  happy  married  life.  He  had  a  rare 
facult}^  of  bringing  out  the  best  there  was  in  a  boy  or 
young  man,  and  this  apparently  without  anj^  special 
effort,  hy  the  simplicity,  honest}-,  truth  and  puritj^  of 
his  character,  and  the  clearness,  thoroughness  and 
kindness  of  his  teaching.  I  have  alwa3^s  counted  it 
a  great  blessing  to  me  that  the  Lord  sent  such  a  man 
—  sent  liini  (through  my  dear  old  friend,  Rev.  Charles 
Parker,) —  to  be  mj-  associate  at  Jonesboro.  Our  lives 
and  hearts  touched  in  many  points,  and  his  silent  and 
unconscious  influence  over  me  was  large,  and  helped 
to  make  me  a  better  man,  a  better  minister,  and  a 
better  thinker.  Perhaps  the  influence  was  some- 
what mutual  ;  but  he  gave  me  more  because  he  had 
more  to  give.  He  had  great  capacit}'  for  being  a 
friend,  and  he  could  be  only  a  true,  faithful  and  gen- 
erous one." 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THEOLOGICAL   COURSE. 

Mr.  Dwinell  was  urged  by  a  friend  to  "  study  Di- 
vinity ' '  under  the  direction  of  some  scholarly  pastor. 
Under  date  of  July  13th,  1845,  in  a  letter  that  has  been 
preserved,  he  gave  his  friend  his  "  reasons  for  going  to 
a  Theological  Seminary,"  which — partly  general  and 
partly  special  —  show  that  he  greatly  appreciated  ' '  the 
atmosphere  of  theological  thought  that  breathes  around 
them,  "and  "the  book-facilitiesin  which  they  abound." 
' '  From  no  place  do  such  conservation,  and  at  the  same 
time,  such  exalting  influences,  go  forth  as  from  them." 
"  Where  can  we  find  in  the  community  anj-  organized 
influence  that  is  doing  a  better  work  ?  Can  we  fashion 
in  our  minds  any  practicable  scheme,  by  which  more 
men  and  better  qualified  can  be  sent  forth  as  conserva- 
tors and  regenerators  ?  " 

Having  completed  his  service  in  the  Academy  at 
Jonesboro,  he  came  North  in  the  early  spring  of  1845. 

"  Oct.  26.  I  came  to  New  York  in  March,  under 
circumstances  sufficiently  discouraging.  I  was  in 
hopes  of  entering  the  Junior  Class  in  Union  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  and  of  finding  a  situation  to  teach  in  the 
city,  in  order  to  pay  my  way.  In  both  objects  I  was 
defeated.  But  this  fall,  although  I  was  disappointed 
in  not  being  able  to  enter  the  Middle  Class,  I  have, 
through  the  kindness  of  my  friend  Mr.  A.  B.  Rich, 
secured  a  situation  to  teach,  in  which  I  am  at  pre.sent 


30  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

receiving  ample  means  for  prosecuting  my  studies.  I 
feel  very  grateful  to  my  Heavenly  Father  for  this 
favor,  and  I  have,  now,  little  doubt  but  that  the  dis- 
appointment to  which  I  have  alluded  will  all  turn  to 
my  account,  if  so  be  that  I  am  faithful. 

"  Hoping  that  God  will  watch  over  me  to  the  end,  I 
have  entered  upon  the  study  of  theologj',  which  I  re- 
gard as  the  crowning  event  of  the  year.  I  put  my 
trust  and  confidence  in  Him  ;  with  Him  my  destin)^ 
lies  for  the  year  to  come.  Ma}^  I  be  worth}-  of  Him 
b}^  whom  I  am  bought." 

This  spirit  of  resignation,  after  failing  to  enter  the 
Middle  Class,  was  not  acquired  without  a  struggle,  but 
he  was  ever  after  thankful  that  he  entered  the  Junior 
Cla.ss  and  took  the  full  course,  and  his  advice  to  all 
students  was  not  to  cut  short  their  course  in  college  or 
seminary  at  either  end.  At  the  time  the  whole  ques- 
tion whether  he  could  take  a  Seminar}^  course  seemed 
to  depend  upon  whether  he  could  enter  a  j'car  in  ad- 
vance. 

"  I  was  examined  Wednesdaj'  night  by  Drs.  White 
and  Robinson  for  admission  to  the  Middle  Class,  and 
was  found  not  to  be  prepared.  This  circumstance  has 
been  a  great  rebuff  to  my  hopes.  I  frankly-  say  I  was 
disappointed  and  grieved  by  the  issue.  I  do  not  care 
so  much  about  the  fact  of  being  in  the  Junior  Class 
(which  I  have  concluded  to  enter),  as  to  know  that  I 
had  overestimated  the  amount  of  my  studies.  To  be 
sure,  my  friends  are  looking  forward  to  the  completion 
of  my  studies  for  some  little  pecuniary  assistance,  should 
it  lie  in  my  power  to  make  them  any  return  for  their 
kindness  to  me.  A  brother  also  has  just  entered  col- 
lege, and  I  have  been  looking  forward  with  much  anx- 
iety for  an  opportunity  to  aid  him  in  his  attempts  to 
get  an  education. 


THEOLOGICAL   COURSE.  31 

"  He  Stands  almost  alone.  If  left  to  himself,  I  do  not 
know  whether  he  will  be  able  to  buffet  successfull}- 
with  the  world. 

' '  But  as  it  is,  all  my  hopes  seem  postponed  a  year.  In 
one  point  of  view,  a  year  —  one  of  the  most  profitable  in 
my  life  —  cut  ont  by  the  '  shears  of  fate  '  from  the  pro- 
gress of  life .  *  *  *  This  is  a  false  view  of  the  case 
if  I  am  true  to  myself,  yet  one  which  broods  upon  my 
mind.     *     *     * 

"  It  seems  to  me  I  might  have  anticipated  the  result. 
How  could  I  satisfy  Dr.  White,  who  holds  a  lifeless 
system  of  mental  science  ?  I  had  studied  his  system 
carefully.  I  think  I  know  it.  If  he  had  desired  me  to 
give  t/iat,  I  could  have  given  it  in  the  phraseology  or 
nomenclature  of  /lis  school ;  but  when  he  put  the  ques- 
tions directly  and  demanded  how  things  were,  and 
when,  thrown  in  that  way  back  upon  conscience  and  the 
sense  of  truth,  I  avoided  the  nomenclature  of  my  own 
system,  and  adopted  his  in  order  to  render  myself  intel- 
ligible (!  !  !),  no  wonder  that  he  thought  that  the 
science  was  an  imperfect  one  in  ni}'  hands,  and  that  I 
ought  (as  he  said  substantially)  at  least  to  have  given 
evidence  of  having  examined  the  subject.  The  severity 
of  this  remark  fell  very  harmlessly  upon  me.     *     * 

"  Of  course  it  would  be  presumptuous  in  me  to  attempt 
now  to  affirm  what  God  designed  in  this  event  in  my 
life.  I  hope  it  is  to  make  me  an  instrument  of  greater 
good.  I  think  I  can  see  many  things  in  which  it  will 
be  to  my  advantage.  I  mean  to  watch  the  intimations 
of  Providence,  put  myself  ivillingly  under  God's  con- 
trol, and  obey  the  intimations  of  his  wishes. ' ' 

"My  Own  Room,  Dec.  15,  1845. 
"  Last  Saturday,  late  at  night,  I  discovered  on  my  body 
various  ominous  ///<r/^///^^/ eruptions,  which  alarmed  me 


32  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

considerably.  I  told  my  room-mate  to  prepare  for  the 
worst  consequences  with  reference  to  both  of  us ;  threw 
myself  into  bed,  and  tried  to  resign  mj^self  to  leave  the 
issue  with  God.  In  the  morning  I  awoke,  and  no 
change  of  the  night  gave  indication  that  the  leopard 
had  changed  his  spots.  Dr.  Post  came  at  noon,  and 
pronounced  that  I  had  varioloid  !  This  announcement 
was  received  very  philosophically,  considering  that  it 
pronounced  me  infectious,  and  a  loathsome  object  to 
society,  and  doomed  me  irrevocably  to  my  room.  With 
what  little  religion  and  philosophy  I  could,  I  adjusted 
myself  to  my  room,  and  am  now  endeavoring  to  content 
myself  with  the  view  of  its  narrow  dimensions. 
******** 

"  Well,  I  must  bear  the  consequences  of  small  pox. 
The  first  thing  is  to  see  nobody,  and  the  second  is  to 
eat  nothing,  or  its  equivalent.  A  man  then  does  exert 
an  influence  on  his  fellow-men,  particular!}^  if  he  have 
the  small  pox  !  The  influence  is  quite  electric,  as  ora- 
tors and  musicians  tell  about ;  but  of  the  electrico- 
repiilsive  kind." 

"Dec.  17.  Here  I  am,  shut  up  for  the  public 
good  ;  remotely  for  my  own.  Then  it  is  acknowledged 
that  private  rights  must  be  sacrificed  for  public  good  in 
the  case  of  a  person  breeding  infection  !  But  you  have 
great  scruples  against  capital  punishment  for  capital 
crimes.  You  hesitate  to  proceed  against  the  man  who 
degrades  and  ruins  your  young  men,  and  hurries  an- 
nually thousands  of  your  old  ones  off  to  the  grave,  by 
furnishing  them  with  poisons  to  satisfy  an  appetite 
which  he  himself  fostered  —  because  you  do  not  like  to 
interfere  with  his  private  rights.  Then  he  has  a  right 
to  circulate  his  noisy,  tumultuous  and  mad  drinks, 
while  I,  in  good  sooth,  am  to  lie  in  my  room  for  the 
good  of  the  public  !  ' ' 


THEOLOGICAL    COURSE.  33 

"Dec.  16,  1846.  The  want  of  a  few  shilling  dollars, 
when  that  want  is  pressing,  is  a  great  annoj^ance.  How 
the  feelings  droop  under  it !  The  individual  feels  like 
an  eagle  tied  down  to  earth,  when  he  would  spread  his 
broad  pinions  and  soar  under  the  high  heavens.  His 
vision  is  money,  too  near  tc  be  undesired,  too  remote 
to  be  reached.  A  poor  man  is  very  imaginative.  If 
his  themes  were  poetical,  he  would  produce  many  a 
poem." 

Such  an  entry  reveals  the  financial  condition  of  the 
young  theological  student,  notwithstanding  his  efforts 
to  sustain  himself  by  teaching  ;  a  condition  frankly  ac- 
knowledged in  his  application  to  the  American  Educa- 
tion Society,  made  about  this  time.  "  Thus  far  I  have 
got  along  without  any  assistance,  save  what  my  friends 
were  able  to  give  me  while  in  college.  I  came  to  the 
Seminary  without  funds  in  hand,  or  which  I  cotild  com- 
mand from  any  quarter.  I  succeeded  in  finding  a  sit- 
uation to  teach,  which  I  still  have.  I  was  in  hopes  to 
be  able  to  pay  mj^  way,  but  find  m3^self  embarrassed 
and  perplexed  with  a  few  debts,  which  I  am  unable  to 
pay  off.     I  believe  it  is  my  dut}^  to  ask  for  assistance. 

"  I  apply  to  the  parent  society  (in  Boston)  rather  than 
to  the  N.  Y.  branch,  not  only  because  I  am  from  New 
England  and  a  member  there  (at  Burlington),  but  also 
because  the  beneficiaries  of  the  N.  Y.  society  inform 
me  that  the  dividend  here  has  hitherto  been  both  irreg- 
ular and  small,  and  promises  to  be  less  the  coming 
year  ?     Can  your  society  assist  me  ?     *     *     * 

' '  Your  brother  in  Christ, 

"I.  E.  DWINELL." 

The  answer  from  Mr.  Riddel,  Secretary  of  the  N. 
Y.  branch,  was  sufficiently  discouraging:  "*  *  * 
It  would  not  be  regular  nor  fair  for  the  parent  society 


34  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

to  have  in  their  connection  j^oung  men  who  are  pur- 
suing their  studies  at  New  York,  or  at  other  institu- 
tions in  the  Middle  States.  *  *  *  We  cannot, 
therefore,  comply  with  your  request." 

Thus  are  we  made  acquainted  with  the  difficulties 
that  repeated!}'  threatened  to  undermine  his  courage, 
to  crush  his  hope,  and  to  block  his  way  from  the  farm 
to  the  pulpit.  His  persistency^  overcame  obstacles  and 
carried  him  on  his  way.  To  all  young  men  who  have 
evidence  that  they  have  been  called  of  God  to  the  Min- 
istry or  an}-  other  form  of  Christian  service,  he  fur- 
nishes an  example  of  perseverance  that  they  well  niaj^ 
emulate. 

As  a  student  he  was  also  persevering.  Appreciating 
the  value  of  his  time  and  the  importance  of  his  studies, 
he  was  no  idler.  He  was  not  wandering  for  his  own 
delectation  in  the  fields  of  theories  and  systems  and 
hypotheses.  He  followed  after  truth,  and  searched  for 
her  as  for  hid  treasures.  ' '  He  was  an  industrious, 
thorough  student,  but  at  the  same  time  he  was  a  cor- 
dial, familiar  friend, ' '  writes  one  who  occupied  an 
adjoining  room  in  those  seminary  days,  adding:  — 
^'  Many  were  the  essay  plans,  sermon  plans  and  doc- 
trinal talks  we  used  to  have  together."  This  fellow- 
student.  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Willey  D.D.,  of  vSan  Fran- 
cisco, was  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  Dr.  Dwinell's  co- 
laborer  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  the  friendship  between 
them  begun  at  Union  vSeminary  growing  with  the  years 
until  thej^  were  separated  for  a  season  by  the  death  of 
Dr.  Dwinell. 

On  the  seventh  of  April,  1848,  Mr.  Dwinell  was  ap- 
probated as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel  by  the  Fourth 
Presbytery  of  New  York.  The  following  June  he  was 
graduated  from  the  Theological  Seminary,  with  the 
degree  of  B.D. 


CHAPTKR   V. 

MARRIAGE.       HOME    MISSIONARY    SERX'ICE. 

Twelve  long,  eventful  years  had  intervened  since 
the  boy  began,  at  great  sacrifice,  to  obtain  a  liberal 
education.  Enriched  in  mind,  ennobled  by  the  Divine 
love  to  which  he  had  surrendered,  he  took  his  place 
among  those  who,  through  the  foolishness  of  preach- 
ing, hope  to  lead  their  fellow  men  to  Him  who  ^aves. 

During  the  summer  of  1847  he  labored  for  a  few 
weeks  as  a  colporteur  in  Rockland  County-,  N.  Y.,  under 
a  commission  from  the  American  Tract  Society.  Upon 
the  back  of  that  commission  he  has  made  record  :  — 
' '  Commission  from  American  Tract  Society  on  which 
I  acted  as  Colporteur  one  month  with  gre.-it  profit  and 
satisfaction."  There  is  no  record  of  his  having  preached 
at  all  during  his  Seminary  course,  but  of  one  sermon 
preached  after  graduating  we  shall  take  note  later,  as 
the  preaching  of  it  led  to  his  being  called,  months 
afterward,  to  a  most  important  field. 

In  making  plans  for  Christian  service  in  the  Minis- 
try, the  East  as  well  as  the  West  was  open  to  Mr. 
Dwinell.  He  chose  missionary  service  in  the  West. 
Under  a  commission  of  the  American  Home  Missionary 
Society  to  labor  in  "  Northern  Illinois  and  the  region 
adjacent,"  he  left  \"ermont  in  August,  184S,  for  Ga- 
lena, 111.,  where  his  particular  location  was  "  to  be  fixed 
by  the  advice  of  Rev.  Aratus  Kent,  agent  of  the  So- 
ciety."    In  passing  through  Massachusetts  he  stopped 


36  I.SRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

over  a  Sabbath  in  Salem,  as  the  guest  of  a  friend,  and, 
b}-  invitation  of  Rev.  Dr.  Brown  Emerson,  the  vener- 
able pastor  of  the  South  Chuich,  the  5-oung  Seminar}- 
graduate  preached  a  sermon,  the  influence  of  which 
was  far  reaching,  although  at  the  time  iinsuspected  by 
himself  or  others. 

From  Salem  he  proceeded  on  his  wa\'  westward  via 
Tennessee  ;  mere  definitely,  Eastern  Tennessee  ;  to  be 
exact,  Jonesboro,  Tennessee.  In  truth,  Jonesboro  and 
the  happy  home  of  the  Maxwells  had  never  been,  dur- 
ing his  Seminary  course,  forgotten.  "The  fact  of 
love  "  had  brightened  the  last  three  years  of  student 
life.  There  was  to  be  a  wedding  in  Tennessee  before 
the  ordination  in  Illinois.  He  was  to  go  forth  to  his 
life-work,  happy  in  the  presence,  and  aid  and  s^'mpa- 
thy  of  a  wife,  who  shared  his  ever}-  burden, 

"  and  made  a  swishine  in  the  shady  place.'' 

On  the  12th  da}^  of  September,  1848,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Rebecca  E.  A.  Maxwell. 

In  a  letter  to  Rev.  W.  T.  Herrick,  w^ritten  a  few 
weeks  after  the  wedding,  he  gives  a  brief  account  of 
the  wedding  :  "I  reached  Jonesboro  on  the  second  of 
September.  We  were  married  on  the  twelfth.  About 
thirty  were  present  —  nearh-  all  the  relatives  of  Rebec- 
ca. Miss  Ide  and  Mr.  Allen  ('  Brother  Jo  ')  were  the 
attendants.  Mr.  More}- performed  the  service  —  beau- 
tifully done  —  gracefully  done  —  much  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  Mr.  Morey,  as  well  as  others  present.  Rebecca 
was  in  good  spirits  and  gcod  health,  both  of  w^hich 
things  have  been  true  ever  since.  It  was  particularly 
pleasant  for  us  to  have  Mr.  Allen's  company  during 
our  stay.  He  arrived  in  Jonesboro  about  the  same 
time  I  did,  and  left  the  same  day.     There  was  as  little 


MARRIAGE.      HOME  MISSIONARY  SERVICE.  37 

ceremony  on  the  wedding  occasicn  as  Rebecca's  friends 
thought  admissible  with  Southern  custom,  though  not 
as  little  as  either  of  us  would  have  liked." 

From  Jonesboro  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dwnnell  set  out  for 
Illinois  ;  not,  however,  until  Mr.  Dwinell  had  been 
urged  to  take  the  pastorate  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  Jonesboro.  There  were  dissensions  in  the  church. 
"  They  desired  me  to  preach,  and  both  parties  pressed 
me  soreb'  to  remain  with  them.  Rebecca  j^referred 
going  away,  for  many  reasons,  most  of  w^hich  you  will 
readily  imagine,  and  I  could  not  consent  to  remain." 

To  Rev.  Mr.  Herrick  : — "We  left  Jonesboro  on 
the  nineteenth  of  September.  We  stopped  over  the 
first  Sabbath  at  Lebanon,  with  Rebecca's  friends  ;  took 
steamboat  at  Nashville ;  went  directly  to  Galena, 
reaching  there  on  the  sixth  of  October.  The  church 
in  Galena  had  previously  invited  Mr.  Specs,  from  New 
York  state,  to  be  their  pastor.  He  had  not  been  heard 
from.  I  was  requested  to  preach  in  the  mean  time. 
The)'  w^ere  pleased.  They  would  not  allow  me  to 
make  any  other  engagement  until  Mr.  S.  was  heard 
from.  This  I  was  willing  to  do,  because  the  field  I  had 
particularly  in  mind  (not  Rock  Island,)  had  also  in- 
vited a  man,  a  classmate  of  mine,  and  he  also  lingered 
in  giving  an  answ'er.  We  were  kept  about  six  weeks 
in  this  suspense.  Mr.  Specs  goes  to  Galena.  Mr. 
Clark  does  not  go  to  Rock  Tsland .  That  left  the  way 
open  for  us  to  come  to  this  place.  That  defined  our 
course.  On  leaving  Galena  we  found  that  we  had  made 
many  warm  friends. 

"This  is  a  mission  church,  formed  by  those  who  were 
not  willing  to  be  O.  S.  Presbyterians.  There  are  only 
Presbyterians  enough  here  for  one  church,  and  I  con- 
sider it  folly  to  have  two  (Presbyterian)  churches  here. 


38  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

SO  near  alike,  merely  to  gratify  the  whims  of  disaffected 
and  restless  Christians. 

' '  The  Old  School  man — Mr.  Larkin — is  young,  able, 
and,  I  believe,  a  good  man, — amply  sufficient  for  the 
wants  of  this  place.  But  here  are  de  facto  two  churches. 
What  must  be  done  ?  Moreover,  the  place  is  a  promis- 
ing one.  It  will  not  be  long  before  two  churches  will 
be  demanded  by  something  more  than  a  zv/nin.  One 
thing  is  clear.  I  shall  not  be  sectarian.  If  I  can  do 
anything  for  Christ,  I  shall  do  it  just  as  quick  in  the 
Old  School  or  Methodist  church  as  my  own.  I  would 
not  give  a  straw  to  build  up  New  Schoolism  nor  any 
other  ism  as  a  distinctive  thing.  I  intend  to  wait  till 
Spring,  and  see  whether  my  services  are  demanded 
here — not  by  the  few  who  hear  me  preach — about  fifty 
when  they  are  all  out,  but  by  the  exigencies  of  the 
case.  If  there  are  souls  enough  accessible  to  preach 
to,  and  I  am  doing  good,  I  will  remain — that  seeming 
to  be  my  duty — otherwise  I  may  look  for  another  field. 
I  find  no  difficulty  in  being  western  enough  to  interest 
a  western  audience." 

In  later  years  no  one  expressed  greater  disapproval 
than  he  of  the  "  plan  of  union  "  entered  into  by  Con- 
gregationalists  and  (New  School)  Presbyterians,  and 
then  (1848)  existing,  one  inevitable  tendency  of  which 
was  that  ministers  like  himself,  born  and  reared  in 
Congregational  New  England,  if  trained  theologically 
in  the  Presbyterian  city  of  New  York,  were  recom- 
mended for  licensure  to  a  New  York  Presbytery.  If 
commissioned  by  the  American  Home  Missionary  So- 
ciety, whose  funds  were  contributed  chiefly  by  New 
England  Congregationalists,  they  were  in  most  in- 
stances made  welcome  to  their  eastern  fields  by  Super- 
intendents,—  themselves    Presbyterian,   or   impressed 


MARRIAGE.      HOME  MISSIONARY  SERVICE.  39 

with  the  conviction,  shared  by  general  officers  of  the 
Society,  that  in  the  Western  States  Congregational 
churches  could  not  flourish. 

Entering  the  ministry  through  the  channel  of  the 
American  Home  Missionary  Society,  he  was  naturally 
put  into  communication  with  Presbyterian  churches. 
His  experience  at  Rock  Island  convinced  him  that 
such  subdivisions  of  a  denomination  as  existed  there 
were  not  to  his  mind,  were  not  called  for,  and  could 
not  permanently  exist.  The  time  came  when  the  de- 
nomination itself  saw  that  in  unity  there  is  strength. 
The  time  came,  also,  when  Congregationalists  saw  that 
the  Sons  of  the  Pilgrims,  in  going  West,  are  in  no  de- 
gree shorn  of  their  ability  for  self-government.  In 
Illinois,  toda}^  there  are  about  three  hundred  churches 
of  the  Pilgrim  polity  and  faith.  In  Chicago,  alone,  are 
fifty,  not  one  of  which  existed  until  three  years  after 
Mr.  Dwinell  left  Rock  Island. 

"  Dec.  4,  1848.  We  are  keeping  house  ;  get  along 
first  rate.  R.  does  the  work.  I  write  the  sermons. 
Happy  as  you  please." 

It  was  "  light  housekeeping  ' '  that  they  so  much  en- 
joyed, for,  as  it  seems,  in  the  letter  to  Mr.  Herrick 
quoted  above,  Mr.  Dwinell  felt  unsettled  from  his  first 
going  to  Rock  Island.  In  the  spring  of  1849  there 
came  an  unexpected  call  to  New  England.  We  have 
referred  to  his  Sabbath  in  Salem,  Mass.,  when  on  his 
way  to  Illinois.  In  1849  Dr.  Emerson,  the  Pastor  of 
the  South  Church,  had  been  settled  forty-four  years, 
and  had  reached  his  three-score  years  and  ten  in  age. 
It  had  been  understood  between  him  and  the  church 
that  when  he  was  seventy  years  old  he  should  have  a 
colleague. 

That  time  having  arrived,  he  was  asked  if  he  had 


40  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

any  one  in  mind  for  the  position.  He  asked  where  the 
3^oung  man  was,  who  had  preached  for  him  the  3-ear 
previous  —  referring  to  Mr.  Dwinell.  The  young 
man  and  his  sermon  had  left  their  impression  upon 
him  and,  as  it  proved,  upon  some  of  the  people.  It 
was  voted,  therefore,  b}^  the  church  and  society  that 
Mr.  Dwinell  be  invnted  to  preach  for  three  months, 
with  a  view  to  settlement  as  Associate  Pastor.  The 
invitation  was  accepted,  and  the  Salem  pastorate  entered 
upon. 

On  leaving  the  West,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dwinell  parted 
with  many  warm  friends.  Among  them  were  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  Aratus  Kent,  of  Galena,  whose  welcome  on 
their  arrival,  and  kindness  and  sympathy  during  their 
subsequent  residence  in  Galena  and  Rock  Island,  were 
gratefully  remembered  ever  afterwards. 

Shortly  after  Mr.  Dwinell  returned  East  there  came 
urgent  appeals  for  him  to  return.  "  We  all  want  you 
to  return,  and  will  make  up  a  handsome  subscription, 
if  3"ou  will  do  so,  and  next  year  settle  you  perma- 
nently." 

"  Mr.  Kent  has  visited  us,  and  cheered  us  up.  He 
says  you  will  j-et  return  to  the  West ;  thinks  it  is 
your  field.  All  agree  that  you  could  have  built  up  a 
strong  church  here.  This  is  more  apparent  now  than 
when  you  were  here." 

"  Mrs.  W.  has  just  been  in  here,  and  desires  her 
love  to  3'ou  both.  You  have  reason  to  rejoice  in  the 
Lord  in  reference  to  her  ;  and,  little  as  you  ma}'  esti- 
mate your  efforts  out  of  the  pulpit,  they  were  the 
means,  in  God's  hand,  of  her  conversion. " 

"Rock  Island,  Oct.  25,  '49. 
< '  *     *     *     Q^y^^  yQ^  ijg  prevailed  on  to  come  to  the 
W^est  ?     If  5-0U  are  not  engaged,  I  hope  3'ou  will  hold 


MARRIAGE.      HOME  MISSIONARY  SERVICE.  4 1 

yourself  non  committal,    until    time  is  given  to  hear 
from  the  West. 

' '  Brother  Bascom  of  Chicago  goes  to  Galesburg,  and 
Brother  Loss  of  Rockford  is  invited  to  go  to  the  Third 
Church  in  Chicago.  I  have  resolved  to  mention  your 
name  in  connection  with  the  First  Church  in  Chicago, 
and  to  Brother  Loss  to  use  it,  if  he  should  have  occasion 
to  nominate  a  successor. 

"  Yours, 

"A  Kent." 

On  the  seventh  of  November  following  a  formal  call 
was  extended  to  Mr.  Dwinell,  b}-  the  First  Congrega- 
tional Church  in  Rockford,  Illinois.  "We  have  a 
good  brick  meeting  house,  one  hundred  and  fifty  mem- 
bers in  the  church,  and  a  large  population,  almost  the 
whole  of  which  are  of  New  York  and  New  England 
origin.  *  *  *  We  can  now  raise  for  your  support 
five  hundred  dollars,  with  the  confidence  that  we  shall 
be  able  to  increase  the  salary  soon." 

This  invitation  was  declined. 

"Rock  Island,  Jan.  21,  1850. 
"  I  sometimes  think  if  Mr.  D.  knew  how  much  they 
thought  of  him,  he  would  be  tempted  to  give  up  his 
fine  location  in  the  East  and  return. " 

This  year  of  service  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  brought 
him  a  practical  knowledge  of  Home  Missionary  life 
and  a  sympathy-  with  Home  Missionaries,  that  were 
well  worth  the  months  of  hardship  and  sacrifice  cheer- 
fully undergone  by  the  young  minister  and  his  wife. 
In  the  service  they  rendered  the  Master  they  found 
great  satisfaction.  The  good  they  did  was  not  soon 
forgotten. 
4 


i  ^ 


\  ^ 


'i' 


■a-*-' 


!-/ 


South  Congregational  Church,  Salem,  Mass, 


CHAPTER    VI. 

PASTORATE    IN    SALEM.      JOURNAL. 

No  two  towns  could  be  more  unlike  than  Salem  and 
Rock  Island.  The  latter  looked  anxiously  into  the 
future.  The  former  recalled  complacently  the  past. 
Of  western  emigration,  Rock  Island  was  receiving  its 
share.  With  some  exaggeration,  it  has  been  said  by  a 
recent  writer  :  "  Nobody  new  ever  came  to  Salem,  and 
everybody  then  living  there  had  already  his  legitimate 
occupation."  In  its  general  aspects  the  town  was 
more  colonial  than  its  neighbors.  Its  churches  were 
venerable.  Changes  in  pastorates  were  infrequent. 
In  seventy-one  years  the  Third  or  South  Congrega- 
tional Church  had  been  ministered  to  by  but  two  pas- 
tors, the  second  of  whom  was  still  in  service.  In  Illi- 
nois, the  age  of  churches  was  reckoned  by  years,  often 
by  months.  In  Massachusetts,  history  had  been  mak- 
ing for  over  two  centuries.  From  a  church  on  the 
frontier  not  over  fourteen  months  old,  Mr.  Dwinell 
came  to  one  in  venerable  Salem  that  was  an  hundred 
and  fourteen  years  of  age.  The  First  Church  was  a 
century  older. 

To  Mr.  Dwinell  Salem  was  an  attractive  city.  It 
presented  a  promising  field  of  Christian  labor.  He 
entered  upon  his  Associate  Pastorate  over  the  South 
Church  feeling  that  ' '  the  lines  had  fallen  to  him  in 
pleasant  places,  and  that  he  had  a  goodly  heritage." 

For  fourteen    vears  he    labored  there    in  the  Lord 


44  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

among  a  people  who  loved  him  with  increasing  devo- 
tion, and  whom  he  loved  with  increasing  tenderness. 
The  ties  of  Christian  affection  there  formed  were  never 
severed  on  either  side.  He  lived  in  the  hearts  of  his 
friends  on  the  shores  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  through 
all  the  long  j-ears  that  intervened  until  his  death  bj'  the 
calm  waters  of  San  Francisco  Baj-.  The  secret  of  this 
mutual  affection,  and  of  his  success  both  as  pastor  and 
preacher,  is  an  open  one.  He  was  absorbed  in  his 
calling.  With  singleness  of  aim  he  directed  his  own 
wsiy  heavenward,  and  those  among  whom  he  lived  and 
labored  believed  in  the  man,  and  taking  knowledge  of 
him  that  he  had  been  with  Jesus,  listened  to  the  mes- 
sage declared  by  his  lips  and  his  life. 

From  a  journal  which  he  kept  during  many  j-ears  of 
his  Salem  pastorate  w'e  obtain  glimpses  of  the  pastor's 
heart,  his  sympathies,  his  burdens,  his  aspirations,  his 
prayerful  spirit. 

He  was  not  one  to  thrust  his  personal  meditations 
upon  the  public,  but  he  was  a  man  of  meditation,  and 
as  he  mused  the  fire  burned.  Communion  with  his 
Lord  kindled  into  a  flame  his  gratitude,  his  sense  of 
obligation  and  of  privilege.  "God  has  given  me  a 
blessed  privilege,"  he  whites,  "that  I  may  labor  for 
Him  to  save  souls.  How  this  at  once  rises  up  into  the 
sublimest  of  employments  !  How  anxiously  one  de- 
sires to  labor  while  .such  desolations  are  around  him  ! 
*  *  My  heart  clings  to  the  work  of  Christ.  It 
seems  as  if  I  owe  so  much  to  Jesus,  and  have  done  so 
little,  I  desire  to  be  used  in  winning  souls  to  Him. " 

This  absorption  in  the  work  of  his  calling  w^as  one  of 
his  marked  characteristics.     His  people  recognized  it, 
and  while  thej^  often  spoke  to  him  most  appreciatively 
of  his  sermons,  they  came  more  and  more  to  recognize 


PASTORATK    IN    SALEM.       JOURXAL.  45 

his  burden  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  those  to  whom 
he  preached. 

While  he  always  appreciated  and  was  cheered  by  any 
assurance  that  his  sermons  were  helpful  and  stimulat- 
ing to  others,  he  was  more  deeply  affected  by  the 
knowledge  that  others  shared  his  anxieties,  and  were 
praying  for  him.  On  one  occasion  when  a  sermon 
was  highly  spoken  of  by  several  of  his  people,  he  went 
to  his  study,  and  there  prayed  for  humility.  His 
prayer  was,  "  O  Lord,  keep  me  from  elation.  Let  me 
be  content  to  rejoice  in   Thy  work." 

On  the  other  hand,  when  one  in  a  prayer  meeting 
alluded  to  the  anxieties  of  the  pastor  for  the  salvation 
of  souls,  he  records  :  "  I  tried  to  hide  my  tears  under 
my  hand  and  behind  my  cloak.  These  tears  are  a 
great  weakness  :  and  I  wish  they  would  keep  back.  I 
know  not  but  it  is  pride,  but  they  often  make  me 
ashamed."  Like  Paul,  "out  of  anguish  of  heart  * 
*  with  mmy  tears  "  he  prepared  his  messages  of 
truth  ;  and  yet,  with  the  great  Apoitle  he  could  say  : 
"  I  determined  this  with  myself  that  I  would  not  come 
to  you     *     in  heaviness. " 

After  preaching  one  sermon  early  in  his  Salem 
ministry  he  wrote  in  his  journal :  "It  seemed  as  if  all 
my  anguish  of  spirit  was  poured  out  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  sermon,  and  the  shallow  fountain  of  peni- 
tence and  solicitude  exhausted,  so  that  there  was  none 
left  for  the  sanctuary." 

But  those  who  heard  knew  that  his  words  came 
from  a  heart  that  was  in  close  touch  with  Him  who 
spake  as  never  man  spake. 

He  who,  with  troubled  countenance,  spent  whole 
nights  in  prayer,  went  out  among  the  people  of  Galilee 
with    countenance   so   serene   and    winsome    that   all 


46  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

classes  felt  the  benign  influence  of  his  presence.  Not 
unlike  the  Master  in  this  respect  was  this  servant  of 
His. 

In  his  pulpit,  and  among  his  people,  all  traces  of 
conflict  were  usually  obliterated  ;  and  this  devoted 
preacher  and  pastor  —  like  Stephen,  full  of  faith  and 
power, —  betrayed  his  divine  companionship  by  a  coun- 
tenance that  grew  with  passing  years  more  spiritual, 
more  intellectual,  and  more  benevolent  —  a  face  that 
to  man 3'  in  widely  separated  regions  seemed  like  a 
benediction  when  they  looked  upon  it,  and  is  remem- 
bered now  by  not  a  few  whom  he  has  helped  out  of 
trouble,  out  of  sorrow,  out  of  sin,  "as  it  had  been 
the  face  of  an  angel." 

His  pastorate  in  Salem  was,  throughout,  an  Asso- 
ciate Pastorate.  The  Rev.  Brown  Emerson,  D.D.,  the 
Senior  Pastor,  was  ordained  April  24,  1805,  as  the  col- 
league of  Rev.  Daniel  Hopkins.  At  the  time  of  Mr. 
Dwinell's  ordination  as  Junior  Pastor,  he  had  been 
in  pastoral  relation  to  the  church  fortj^-five  years.  At 
the  semi-centennial  of  his  ordination  he  said  :  ' '  The 
joint  pastors  work  together  in  the  same  field,  with 
uninterrupted  peace  and  harmony.  Mr.  Dwinell  is 
proved  to  be  a  man  of  superior  talents  and  attainments, 
well  fitted  by  practical  wisdom,  kindness  and  untiring 
devotedness  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  for  the  place 
he  occupies. ' ' 

Among  the  ministers  who  were  members  of  the 
Council  which  ordained  Mr.  liwinell  at  Salem,  Nov. 
22,  1849,  were  Revs.  E.  A.  L,awrence  of  Marblehead  ; 
Isaac  P.  Langworthy  of  Chelsea  ;  George  W.  Blagden, 
D.D.,  of  the  Old  South  Church,  Boston;  Nehemiah 
Adams,  D.D.,  of  the  Essex  Street  Church,  Boston. 
D.  T.  Kimball  of  Ipswich,  was  the  Moderator. 


PASTORATE   IN   SALEM.      JOURNAL.  47 

It  was  said  at  the  time  concerning  the  examination 
of  the  young  candidate:  ''It  was  close,  searching, 
and  thorough  upon  all  points  of  doctrine  and  church 
polity  ;  and  some  of  the  learned  Doctors  in  Divinity 
appeared  to  put  their  ingenuity  to  the  test  in  proi)os- 
ing  the  most  difficult  and  embarrassing  questions  of 
polemical  theology.  To  the  looker-on,  the  ordeal 
through  which  the  candidate  was  obliged  to  pass 
seemed  indeed  like  a  fiery  furnace  ;  but  the  calmness, 
self-possession,  frankness,  and  ability  with  which  he 
sustained  himself,  throughout  the  searching  operation 
of  three  hours,  won  the  sympathy  and  admiration  of 
all  present,  and  gave  unusual  satisfaction." 

The  ordaining  prayer  was  by  Rev.  Reuben  Emerson 
of  South  Reading,  the  aged  brother  of  Dr.  Brown 
Emerson.  Drs.  Blagden,  Adams  and  Langworth}-  also 
took  prominent  parts. 

The  ordainiug  of  a  pastor  in  venerable  Salem  was 
well  called,  as  it  was  also  in  other  parts  of  New  Eng- 
land in  former  years,  the  settlement  of  a  minister. 
Ministers  stayed  settled  in  Salem.  Dr.  Hopkins,  the 
predecessor  of  Dr.  Emerson,  was  pastor  thirty-seven 
3xars,  until  his  death.  Dr.  Emerson  remained  in  the 
pastorate  until  his  death,  in  1872,  a  period  of  67  years. 
It  was  with  a  like  settled  feeling  that  Mr.  Dwinell  took 
up  his  work  in  Salem.  He  was  engaged  in  a  life  work. 
It  might  be  his  one  parish.  Certain  it  is  that  if  at  the 
end  of  fourteen  years  he  had  been  called  to  heavenly 
rather  than  to  new  earthly  scenes,  his  life  would  have 
been  regarded  as  eminently  successful.  He  crowded 
into  those  j-ears  labors  so  abundant  that  the  church  to 
whom  he  ministered,  and  the  community  in  which  he 
lived,  were  advanced  far  on  their  way  spiritually  anil 
morally,    by  what   he  did   for   them   and  with   them. 


48  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINKLL. 

Through  the  pages  of  his  journal  we  come  into  close 
and  sympathetic  relation  with  the  man  whose  medita- 
tions, plans,  opinions  and  acts  are  faithfully  recorded. 

"Sunday,  Nov.  i6,  185 1.  This  evening  I  heard  Dr. 
[LymanJ  Beecher,  on  the  text,  '  Quench  not  the  Spirit.' 
He  spoke  from  a  plan  —  in  itself  good  —  but  his  mind 
seemed  to  move  heavily,  and  not  much  to  kindle. 
It  was  Dr.  Beecher,  but  not  Dr.  Beecher  in  his  power. 
The  discourse  seemed  to  bear  about  the  same  relation 
to  what  he  was  when  he  preached  in  his  power,  as 
the  figure  on  the  guide  board  is  to  Boston  to  which  it 
points.     It  medicated  what  he  was." 

"Nov.  23.  This  evening  have  preached  to  a  large 
and  attentive  audience  on  '  Unconscious  Culture. '  It 
is  a  solemn  theme  for  thoughtless  youth." 

"Nov.  25  [after  prayer-meeting].  I  rejoice  to  have 
heard  a  freshly-felt  petition  for  me  in  my  work,  but  a 
formal  prayer  for  the  Minister  causes  a  shudder. ' ' 

"Thanksgiving  Day.  Preached  today  on  '  Neither 
Wealth  nor  Poverty  favorable  for  the  Well-being  of 
man.  Considerable  freedom,  resulting  from  the  ability 
to  re-create  the  subject  as  I  went  along,  and  to  recover 
the  state  of  mind  in  which  it  was  written,  yes,  an 
intense  state,  and  a  more  lively  grasping  of  the  subject 
—  the  state  I  like  to  be  in  when  I  preach. 

"  Alcander,  Sarah  and  Mary  Jane  here  to  dine,  and 
spent  the  day  with  us. 

"  Rebecca  much  plagued  to  get  the  turke}^  done." 

' '  Dec.  9.  I  tried,  all  day,  to  get  a  plan  for  a  sermon. 
I  made  one,  but  its  parts  wanted  in  internal  adaptation, 
and  just  as  I  was  concluding,  a  new  arrangement  of 
thought  occurred  to  me,  which  I  much  prefer.  So  all 
the  building  of  the  day  fell  down,  and  in  a  moment  a 
superior  fabric  stood  in  its  place." 


PASTORATE    IN    SALEM.      JOURNAL.  49 

"Nov.  6.  I  have  been  in  my  study  preparing  for 
my  temperance  address  in  Marblehead  to-morrow 
night.  I  intend  to  advocate  the  Maine  Law.  The 
friends  of  temperance  in  Massachusetts  are  making  a 
rally  to  urge  it  through  the  legislature.  I  am  strongly 
in  its  favor. ' ' 

"Nov.  7.  This  evening  I  spoke  in  Marblehead  on 
the  Maine  Liquor  Law.     The  town  hall  was  crowded." 

"Dec.  12.  Attended  a  temperance  convention  in 
Lynn — a  rally  in  behalf  of  the  Maine  Law  —  but  a 
small  one,  more  is  the  pity.  Heard  Mr.  Pierpont  and 
Wendell  Phillips." 

' '  Dec.  2  r .  This  evening  I  heard  Dr.  Beecher .  Sub- 
ject :  I.  'What  Religion  is  Not.'  2.  'What  it  Is.' 
3.  '  The  Value  of  It. '  4.  '  The  Way  to  get  It. '  The 
Dr.  had  more  than  his  usual  life  and  ability,  to  quicken 
his  now  long-used  mind  to  the  measurement  of  his 
theme.  I  listened  to  him  with  profound  attention  and 
reverence.  When  he  has  not  vivacity  enough  to  be 
interesting  in  speaking,  he  is  in  the  way  he  lays  out 
his  subject  and  the  moulding  he  gives  his  thought.  In 
these  respects,  what  he  does  now  is  the  repetition 
of  modes  and  habits  formed  when  in  the  prime  of  his 
powers.  I  listen  to  him  to  learn,  if  possible,  how  bet- 
ter to  wield  the  Sword  of  the  Spirit  —  the  Word." 

"Dec.  31.  Another  year  gone  !  1851.  Where  is 
it  ?  How  little  of  good  recorded  against  my  name  ! 
Of  "mercies,  how  many  !  Of  affliction,  one  precious 
(for  it  now  seems  a  holy  period  to  me)  stroke  I  " 

The  affliction  referred  to  was  the  death  of  the  first 
born,  leaving  the  father  and  mother  for  a  time  child- 
less. At  the  age  of  seven  months  the  fair  child,  Edson 
by  name,  w^ho  had  a  large  place  in  the  hearts  of  his 
parents,  was  suddenly  called   to  the  heavenly  home. 


50  ISRAEL    KDSON    DWINELL. 

Deeply  as  their  hearts  were  stirred,  there  were  no  mur- 
murings  against  Divine  Providence. 

"  I  had  hoped  for  the  Hfe  of  the  child,  but  my  prayer 
was  even  stronger  than  my  hope,  and  that  was  that 
God's  will  might  be  done.  From  the  first  I  had  given 
him  to  the  Lord — we  had  confirmed  it  by  baptism  — 
and  now,  when  he  was  called  away,  I  felt  that  no  new 
question  of  resignation  was  raised.  I  had  surrendered 
him  long  before,  and  the  force  of  that  surrender  came 
up  to  my  support  at  his  death. 

' '  I  had  no  questionings  of  Providence.  There  seemed 
no  darkness,  no  mystery,  in  what  God  had  done.  I 
did  not  pretend  to  fathom  it  or  know  its  meanings,  but 
my  faith  and  trust  resolved  the  darkness  all  into  light 
— how,  I  know  not  ;  and  I  felt  nearer  to  God  than  I 
ever  did  before.  I  felt  that  He  was  touching  me  ;  and 
the  Sacred  Presence  has  made  holy  all  that  region  of 
my  life.  That  sorrow-house  now  seems  the  place 
where  I  have  banqueted  with  the  lyord. 

"  Moreover,  there  seems  a  zvholeness  about  the  life  of 
our  little  child — a  completeness — that  I  never  before 
realized,  in  relation  to  a  life  so  short.  It  does  not 
seem  a  fragment — a  small  part  of  a  shattered  vase — a 
bud  torn  off  from  the  stem  before  it  had  time  to  open  ; 
but  a  zvJiole.  There  seems  all  the  unity — beginning, 
middle  and  end — all  the  entireness  of  a  life  of  three 
score  and  ten.  He  had  his  mission.  He  performed  it. 
Would  I  could  perform  mine  as  well !  He  left  nothing 
undone  God  would  have  him  do.  And  then,  when  his 
work  was  all  done,  with  no  blasting  or  abandoning  of 
the  apparently  original  purpose  of  God,  he  went  away. 
We  mourned,  and  our  tears  fell  fast,  for  we  had  hoped 
he  would  be  longer  with  us,  and  he  had  awakened  a 
new  and  precious  life  in  us.     ^\i^  parental  feeling  haA 


PASTORATE    IN'    SALEM.      JOURNAL.  5 1 

begun  to  flow,  the  fountain  seemed  irrepressible — its 
object  was  at  once  taken  away,  and  where  now  could 
the  precious  current  empty  itself?  The  ob.structed 
waters  surged  back  and  forth  through  the  soul :  and 
now  when  I  see  a  little  child  the  sight  .sets  them  all  in 
motion,  and  leads  me  to  wi.sh  the  child  were  mine. 
This  is  the  first  feeling  ;  and  the  next  is  that  it  will 
not  live,  as  a  matter  of  course  ;  —  that  it  is  already  a 
picked  flower,  now  fresh  and  beautiful,  but  soon  to 
wither  ;  and  I  often  find  m5^self  unconsciously  looking 
for  the  signs  of  decay. ' '     [Letter  to  Mr.  Herrick.] 

Twice  afterward,  once  just  before  leaving  Salem  and 
again  .soon  after  leaving  Sacramento,  he  experienced 
the  great  grief  of  parting  with  loved  children  :  one  a 
cherished  bo}*  in  the  second  year  of  his  life  ;  the  other  a 
beloved  daughter,  whose  marriage  had  occurred  some 
months  before  ;  but  in  both  these  bereavements,  as  in 
the  earlier  one,  he  bowed  to  the  sweet  will  of  his 
Heavenly  Father  with  tranquility  of  spirit. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

PASTORATE    IN    SALEM.      JOURNAL. 

"Jan.  5,  1852.  Heard  Mr.  A.  L-  Stone  lecture  at 
the  Lyceum  on  Kossuth.  Eloquent,  commanding, 
highl}^  finished  ;  the  gestures  the  most  appropriate  and 
expressive  I  have  ever  seen.  Thej'  were  in  discourse 
what  engravings  of  scenes  and  localities  are  in  descrip- 
tions on  the  printed  page.  They  pictured  out  the 
thought  to  the  eye  much  more  vividly  than  the  words 
to  the  ear.  It  seemed  the  perfection  of  pictorial  ges- 
ticulation. There  was  no  violence  in  it,  but  calmness, 
finish,  art  running  into  nature,  yet  extending  to  .so 
much  minuteness  as  to  have  a  strong  tinge  of  art.  One 
further  baptism  —  one  higher  effort  of  art  —  would  have 
made  it  perfect,  brought  it  to  the  triumph  of  art,  which 
is  nature  recovered." 

This  description,  which  all  who  have  heard  and  seen 
the  eloquerce  of  Dr.  Stone  will  concede  to  be  as  true 
as  it  is  vivid,  was  written  over  forty  years  ago,  and  is 
itself  an  artistic  word  picture. 

An  address  by  Rufus  Choate  before  the  Phi  Beta 
Kappa  Society  of  the  Universit)^  of  Vermont,  he  calls 
"incomparably  brilliant  and  gorgeous." 

"  1852,  Jan.  17.  I  have  been  reading  Prof.  Park  on 
'  New  England  Theology, '  in- the  Bibliotheca  Sacra.  I 
am  in  hopes  to  be  able  to  spend  more  time  on  the  stern 
questions  of  theology.  I  must  exchange,  or  write  with 
more  speed  ;  do  .something  to  get  more  time  for  study 


54  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

not  bearing  directly  on  preparation  for  the  pulpit.  I 
love  thorough  study.  I  must  endeavor  to  secure  it, 
more  of  it. 

"Jan.  i8.  Tonight  heard  Dr.  Beecher  on  Temper- 
ance and  the  Maine  Law.  There  is  a  wide  interest  on 
this  subject,  and  the  prospect  of  the  passage  of  the  L,aw 
is  quite  encouraging.  The  lecture  —  Beecher-like  — 
was  partly  historical,  partly  prophetical. 

"Jan.  2  1.  I  have  been  up  to  Boston  at  the  Tem- 
perance rail}'  on  presenting  the  petition  to  the  Legis- 
lature for  the  Maine  Law.  There  were  upwards  of 
iiS,ooo  names  on  the  petition,  of  whom  more  than 
50,000  were  legal  voters. 

"  Received  a  letter  from  Mr.  P of  Rock  Island, 

inquiring  if  on  any  terms  I  could  be  induced  to  return 
to  Illinois.  If  I  could,  they  would  give  me  a  call,  and 
satisfy  me  in  reference  to  salary. 

"Jan.  24.  Called  to  see  Miss  S.  She  is  indulging 
a  hope,  entertained  on  the  evening  of  our  last  Sunday 
School  concert.  The  meeting  was  a  very  solemn  one 
to  her.  She  alluded  to  what  I  said,  on  the  importance 
of  decision  of  character  as  necessary  in  order  to  become 
a  Christian,  as  having  made  a  deep  impression,  and 
she  resolved  to  give  her  heart  entirely  to  Christ ;  and 
as  soon  as  she  had  done  it  she  found,  as  she  believes, 
pardon  of  her  sins.  I  could  not  help  rejoicing  that 
God  has  seen  fit  to  honor  me,  who  am  so  unworthj^, 
by  giving  me  anything  to  do  in  the  salvation  of  this 
soul. 

"  Saturday,  Jan.  30.  Finished  my  sermon,  which  I 
began  after  eleven  o'clock  on  Thursday,  and  which  is 
four  pages  longer  than  usual.  This  is  a  shorter  time 
than  I  have  ever  before  spent  on  a  sermon. 

"  Feb.  7.     I  have  been  reading  Neander  this  week. 


PASTORATE    IN   SALEM.      JOURNAL.  55. 

It  is  heavy,  hard  reading,  but  valuable.  I  have  great 
confidence  in  the  results,  which  he  presents  in  his  his- 
tory', of  his  study  of  the  Christian  Fathers, 

"Feb.  9.     S.  T and  K I were  present 

tonight,  to  converse  on  the  subject  of  religion. 

"Feb.  10.  Another  sinner  has  turned  to  Christ. 
The  Holy  Spirit  is  among  us.  O  that  I  were  made 
solemn,  and  felt  and  honored  his  presence  as  I  ought  ! 
At  the  close  of  the  Sabbath  School  concert,  Mrs.  Driver 
came,  leading  one  of  her  class,  L,.  B.,  to  tell  me  she 
hoped  she  had  found  peace  today.  The  meeting  was 
mainly  spent  in  prayer,  and  it  was  solemn. 

"Feb.  II.  Gave  Lyceum  lecture  in  Beverly  to- 
night. The  president  of  the  Lj'ceum  paid  the  lecture 
quite  a  compliment  at  its  conclusion,  but  he  did  not 
know  what  an  internal  struggle  anything  of  that  kind 
costs  me  afterwards.  *  *  *  When  praised  I  find 
no  relief  but  in  pra3-er.  When  most  elated  may  I  be 
most  humble  ! 

"  Feb.  15.  The  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  seemed 
marked  and  precious  today. 

"  Feb.  16.  Miss  F.,  Mrs.  S.  and  Mr.  H.  were  pres- 
ent tonight,  to  talk  on  religion.  The  last  thinks  he 
has  found  the  Savior. 

"  Feb.  22.  The  Divine  Spirit  seemed  to  be  present, 
and  I  have  seldom  seen  the  love  of  God  for  lost  man 
.so  vividly.  My  soul  was  kindled,  and  I  felt  as  if  I 
desired  to  proclaim  this  unspeakable  love.  The  Lord 
be  thanked  for  such  an  interview  I  Tonight  I  tried 
to  preach  the  invitation,  'The  Spirit  and  the  Bride  say 
Come, "  etc. 

"This  is  the  last  Sabbath  Jane  expects  to  be  here  for 
the  present.  I  feel  sad  to  think  of  her  going  away. 
She  goes  to   \>rraont,  where,  doubtless,  the  question 


56  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

will  soon  be  decided  about  her  going  on  a  mission  to 
Canton.  If  called  of  the  Lord,  I  can,  I  trust,  give  her 
up  ;  and  my  praj^er  is  that  the  Head  of  the  Church  will 
cause  her  to  come  to  a  light  decision. 

"  March  2.  Last  night  I  had  a  singular  dream.  I 
was  to  preach.  A  large  audience  was  before  me.  Mj^ 
object,  in  which  I  felt  the  deepest  interest,  and  for 
which  all  my  powers  were  kindled  up,  was  to  show 
the  impossibility  of  a  change  of  character  after  death. 
When  I  began,  all  eyes  were  directed  toward  me.  The 
text  was  named  —  the  theme  and  the  subject  opened  — 
ferv^or  and  warm  persuasiveness  followed — the  imag- 
ination kindled,  and  the  soul  seemed  to  move  for  the 
salvation  of  the  hearers.  But  soon  all  eyes  grew  dull. 
One  man  took  out  a  paper  and  began  to  read  it ;  Dr.  C. 
drew  out  his  account-books  and  began  balancing  them  ; 
others,  merchants  and  shop-keepers  followed  the  ex- 
ample ;  some  entered  upon  earnest  conversations  ;  some 
sported,  and  occasionally  cast  a  sly  look  at  the  speaker; 
but  the  most  seemed  to  be  reproducing  their  daily  bus- 
iness, so  far  as  they  could  make  it  portable  and  bring 
it  to  the  house  of  God.  All  had  come  prepared  with 
something, —  women  with  sewing,  knitting,  etc.,  and 
men  with  books  and  papers,  etc.  In  a  short  time,  in 
fine,  the  room  was  alive  with  the  bus}^  movements  of 
worldlings,  and  I  was  addressing  those  too  busj^  to  hear 
me.  I  was  speaking  to  traffic,  business,  gossip,  amuse- 
ment, and  not  to  the  souls  of  men.  The  painfulness  of 
this  condition  soon  awoke  me. 

"Then  I  thought  that  I  had  but  the  representation 
of  what  is  really  the  spiritual  audience  we  ministers 
often  have  to  address.  The  viaterial  audience  maj^  be 
sober,  motionless,  pulpit-looking,  devout-appearing 
persons  ;  while    the  spiritual  audience  is    tradesmen. 


PASTORATK  IN  SALEM.   JOURNAL.        57 

seamstresses,  gallants,  and  lovers  of  the  world.  My 
dream  made  the  inward  and  spiritual  the  outward  and 
visible.  What  a  sight  it  would  be  if  we  should  be 
compelled  to  look  into  the  hearts  of  our  auditors,  and 
see  what  casting  of  accounts,  what  laying  of  plans, 
what  scenes  of  pleasure  are  enacting  in  them  !  How 
it  would  stifle  our  ardor  ! 

"  March  11.  Heard  Thomas  Starr  King  this  even- 
ing. R.  and  I  went  earh%  and  saw  the  people  assem- 
ble. At  first  I  was  reminded,  as  the)'  came  flocking 
in  and  regularly  filled  up  the  seats,  of  the  systematic 
arrangement  of  ideas  in  a  discourse.  It  seemed  no  un- 
fit illustration  of  the  divisions  and  paragraphs,  each  in 
turn  filled  out  with  thought ;  and  all  centering  around 
the  speaker  and  all  looking  at  him,  as  all  the  thoughts 
should  gather  around  some  central  one.  But  looking 
a  little  further,  I  discovered  that  there  was  no  unity 
of  age,  or  sympathy,  or  sex,  or  color,  or  condition  in 
the  partition  of  individuals.  Different  religions  were 
side  by  side,  different  sexes,  different  colors,  different 
ages.  The  seats  indeed  were  filled,  making  an  out- 
ward formal  unity  around  the  speaker.  I  therefore  con- 
sidered it  were  a  better  illustration  of  that  nietJiodkss 
kind  of  writing  which  has  no  interior  method,  nothing 
but  th^fonn  of  method,  such  as  separate  paragraphs, 
chapters,  title  pages  and  covers  give. 

"Mr.  King  lectured  on  'The  character,  labors  and 
genius  of  Paul. '  Brilliant,  but  sadly  deficient  in  evan- 
gelical spirit.  There  was  nothing  intimating  that  the 
Apostle  was  moved  b}'-  an}' thing  higher  than  genius  ; 
a  perfect  ignoring  of  all  his  spiritual  claims,  and  all 
hand  of  God  in  his  history.  I  wonder  that  as  a  liter- 
ar}^  performance  there  should  have  been  such  want  of 
apprehension  of  the  central  principle  of  his  life. 

5 


58  ISRAEL   EUSON    DWINELL. 

"June  6.  [While  sick.]  I  have  felt  that  I  could 
easily  give  up  the  world,  the  desire  of  carrying  out  life 
to  a  kind  of  worldly  completeness  or  unity,  the  ambi- 
tious hopes,  the  large  aims  :  all  this  I  could  easily  yield. 
But  to  leave  friends  and  have  them  mourning  for  me, 
—  especially  my  dear  Rebecca,  and  have  her  drooping 
and  sorrowing  over  the  void, —  this  seemed  hard  ;  but 
harder  far  to  leave  the  work  of  Christ.  My  heart  has 
clung  to  this.  It  seemed  as  if  I  owed  so  much  to  Jesus, 
and  have  done  so  little  ;  that  I  desired  life  that  I  might 
be  used  in  winning  souls  to  Him.  *  *  L,ife  is  made 
so  miserable  to  the  great  proportion  of  the  human  fam- 
ily by  sin,  of  which  the  Gospel  furnishes  the  perfect 
cure,  that  it  seems  one  who  is  laboring  for  the  salva- 
tion of  men  can  scarcely  be  spared.  Yet  how  God's 
spirit  and  providence  rebuke  this  argument  of  pride  ! 
A  voice  at  once  tells  me  :  —  'I  can  get  along  without 
you.  Souls  can  be  saved  without  you  ;  they  have 
been  ;  they  will  be.  Thousands  and  tens  of  thousands, 
better  than  you,  I  have  taken  away  in  the  bloom  and 
freshness  of  their  service,  and  the  work  has  not  fal- 
tered. I  choose  to  use  you  for  the  present,  and  while 
you  live,  work  and  be  humble. ' 

"  So  let  me.  Lord,  ever  be  prepared  to  go  at  thy  call, 
leaving  all,  and  more  than  all,  Christ's  work,  calmly  in 
thy  hands  ! 

"June  13.  [After  hearing  a  sermon  on  'Inspira- 
tion.'] He  went  over  the  whole  ground,  and  the  dis- 
course was  an  hour  long.  The  matter  was  good,  the 
method  discursive.  He  shoots  with  shot  and  not  with 
ball,  and  his  shot  scatter. 

"June  15.  Was  made  happy  to  find  Mrs.  B.  indulg- 
ing in  a  hope.  God  often  works  when  we  have  noth- 
ing to  do  with  it.     She  has  not  been  to  meeting  for 


PASTORATE  IN  SALKM.   JOURNAL.        59 

eighteen  months,  yet  she  has  been  for  some  time  cher- 
ishing the  secret  hope.  It  is  pleasant  to  have  these 
unexpected  revelations.  They  show  that  heaven  has 
opened  and  a  beam  of  light  burst  forth,  which  others 
failed  to  see. 

"July  4,  1852.  In  the  evening  the  fireworks  were 
brilliant.  I  admired  them  much.  I  thought,  however, 
they  were  fit  emblems  of  earthly  joy  and  greatness, — 
brilliant,  corruscating  for  a  time,  but  soon  ending  in 
darkness.  To  be  just  symbols  of  heaven  they  should 
rise  ever  higher  and  higher,  and  grow  brighter  and 
brighter,  until  at  last  in  one  triumphant  burst  of  glory 
they  melt  into  heaven.  There  was  an  impressive  moral 
before  me,  and  I  thought  how  often  the  most  brilliant 
is  the  shortest  lived. 

' '  July  6.     This  evening  brother sent  in  to  the 

church  a  resignation  of  his  office  of  ,  in  view  of 

the  difficulties  between  him  and  Brother .  His  sen- 
sitive nature  is  much  pained  by  the  stiffness  and  stub- 
bornness of  the  latter.     O  that  Brother could  see 

his  heart, —  could  see  how  much  of  the  old  man  there 
is  there  !  He  is  a  good  man,  but  he  knows  his  own 
heart  less  than  any  man  I  ever  saw,  who  knows  so 
many  other  things. ' ' 

Parts  of  the  months  of  July  and  August  were  spent 
at  Calais,  on  vacation.  These  days  of  vacation  in  Ver- 
mont were  always  delightful  to  him.  Olten  preach- 
ing in  the  village  church  on  the  Lord's  day,  he  gave 
up  the  rest  of  the  week  to  unreserved  enjoyment  of  the 
familiar  scenes  and  friends  around  him.  An  exception 
should  be  made,  however,  of  the  first  week  of  many 
vacations.  It  was  his  custom  to  write  a  sermon  for 
the  first  service  after  he  should  return  to  his  pulpit, 
and  to  finish  it  before  he  had  fairly  entered  upon  his 


6o  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

vacation.  Thus  we  find  him  making  this  record  in  his 
Journal :  — 

"East  Calais,  Thursdaj-,  July  23.  Finished  todaj^ 
a  sermon  on  the  Resurrection.  It  was  very  hard  to 
write  a  sermon  in  vacation,  but  I  knew  it  must  be 
done,  and  began  early  Monda}^  morning,  and  am  now 
very  thankful  it  is  completed." 

This  forehandedness  in  pulpit  preparation  was  char- 
acteristic of  Dr.  Dwinell  throughout  his  ministry.  He 
often  had  one,  sometimes  more  than  one,  week's  prep- 
aration in  store. 

On  the  Sabbath  previous  to  leaving  for  one  of  his  va- 
cations, he  writes  :  —  "I  gave  the  sermon  I  wrote  last 
week,  '  Shut  up  to  the  Gospel. '  I  wanted  to  save  it 
till  our  return  from  Vermont,  so  as  not  to  be  obliged 
to  write  one  during  vacation,  but  the  weather  was  too 
fair  and  the  audience  too  large  to  allow  me  to  think  of 
preaching  an  old  sermon." 

Family  parties  and  picnics,  fishing,  excursions  to 
Woodbury  Pond,  boat  rides,  excursions  on  foot,  pitch- 
ing and  raking  haj-,  picking  berries  on  the  hillsides, 
resting  in  the  shade  of  familiar  trees,  reading  and  con- 
versation,—  these  were  some  of  the  summer  recreations 
of  the  hard-working  Salem  pastor. 

' '  Saturda}^  July  31 .  Finished  our  most  interesting 
and  pleasant  visit  at  home,  and  left  for  Winooski  Falls, 
to  visit  Mr.  Herrick. 

The  return  to  Salem  was  marked  bj^  a  warm  wel- 
come home.  This  love  of  the  South  Church  congrega- 
tion for  this  pastor  and  his  family  never  failed  of  warm 
expression  whenever  they  returned  after  an  absence. 
' '  How  many  pleasant  greetings  we  have  received  on 
getting  home  !  It  seems  we  cannot  doiibt  that  our  peo- 
ple love  us.  I  have  had  today  some  feelings  of  un- 
worthiness  of  such  attachment. ' ' 


PASTORATE   IN   SALEM.      JOURNAL.  6l 

"Aug.  22.  Preached  today  on  the  'Influence  of 
Dissension  on  Religious  Prosperity.'  Text,  James  3  : 
16.  The  state  of  things  in  our  church  and  society  has 
caused  me  much  anxiety  at  times.  I  thought  it  my 
duty  to  preach  a  sermon  on  this  general  subject.  I 
have  carefully  avoided  all  personal  allusions,  have  writ- 
ten, not  with  the  vision  of  men  before  my  mind,  but 
with  that  of  truth.  I  trust  the  effort,  sodden  in  prayer, 
may  be  owned  of  the  Lord.  I  went  tremblingly  to 
Church,  but  felt  assisted  while  there. 

"Aug.  27.  I  have  for  the  last  three  Friday  even- 
ings been  endeavoring  to  expound  Galatians.  I  may 
do  better  by  and  by,  but  I  now  make  poor  work  of 
it,  and  it  is  quite  unsatisfactory  to  the  people.  Many 
wry  faces  appear  at  the  announcement  of  the  subject. 
I  do  feel  as  if  there  is  a  way  in  which  the  Word  of  God 
can  be  made  interesting  by  exposition,  but  fear  I  shall 
not  find  it.  I  wish  I  had  more  capability  in  that  direc- 
tion, or  our  people  more  patience. 

"Sept.  5.  Had  a  precious  occasion  in  administer- 
ing the  Lord's  Supper  today,  although  at  times  nearly 
overpowered  by  my  feelings.  God  give  me  more  for- 
titude of  mere  physical  sympathy,  to  bear  what  he  re- 
veals to  my  heart  ! 

"  Sept.  19.  Received  this  morning  the  joyful  intel- 
ligence that  Melvin  is  indulging  the  hope  that  he  is  a 
Christian.  I  have  long  felt  anxious  for  him.  He  has 
had  the  advantages  of  an  education,  and  it  seems  so 
sad  to  have  an  educated  man  irreligious.  Many  are 
the  prayers  I  have  offered  for  him.  I  find  an  entry 
in  my  Journal  (March  15th)  that  I  would  daily  pray 
for  his  convict'on  and  salvation.  This  purpose,  when 
formed,  was  to  continue  a  month.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time  it  was  renewed,  and  continued  a  month  long- 


62  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

er  ;  then  my  faith  and  importunity  gave  over.  But  how 
the  Lord  has  reproached  me  !  How  he  seems  to  chide 
m}^  want  of  faith,  and  3^et  what  a  glorious  chiding  ! 

"  Friday,  Sept.  24.  Finished  Galatians  tonight.  Our 
people,  at  first,  murmured  a  good  deal  to  have  me  oc- 
cupy Friday  evening  with  exposition,  but  I  thought 
it  profitable.  I  think  I  have  made  some  progress  in 
learning  the  art  of  making  exposition  interesting  and 
profitable  ;  but  I  will  not  giv^e  our  people  too  much  of 
a  good  thing,  and  hence  for  the  present  will  return  to 
the  old  course  of  lectures  on  diverse  subjects. 

"Oct.  29.  Webster's  funeral  was  today.  I  have 
never  known  a  death  of  a  public  man  which  has  awak- 
ened so  many  manifestations  of  regard  in  the  commu- 
nity where  I  have  lived.  Webster  was  the  pride  of 
Massachusetts. 

"Oct.  31.      Dr. preached  this  morning  on  the 

death  of  Webster,  giving  many  interesting  reminis- 
cences. It  appears  that  he  and  Webster  were  three 
years  in  college  together.     *     *     * 

"All  the  discourse  relating  to  Webster  was  fresh, 
vigorous  and  highly  interesting." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

PASTORATE    IN   SALEM.       CORRESPONDENCE. 

"  Nov.  3.  Went  to  New  York,  to  see  Jane  and  Mr. 
Hale  sail  for  California. 

"  Nov.  7.  In  the  evening  the  Farewell  Meeting 
was  held  in  Dr.  Smith's  church.  It  was  a  solemn,  hap- 
py and  interesting  meeting." 

This  company  of  Missionaries  was  the  third  to  go 
out  from  the  East  to  California,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  American  Home  Missionar}-  Society.  The  party 
consisted  of  Revs.  J.  G.  Hale,  W.  C.  Pond,  Samuel  B. 
BeU,  S.  S.  Harmon,  James  Pierpont,  E.  B.  Walsworth, 
Thomas  Condon  and  Obed  Dickinson,  with  their  wives, 
and  two  of  them  with  three  children  each.  In  the 
farewell  service  Mr.  Dwinell  took  a  part.  California, 
at  that  time,  Avas  little  less  than  a  foreign  mission  field. 
The  departure  of  these  sixteen  Christian  workers, 
whom  Mr.  Dwinell  spoke  of  "as  a  precious  gospel 
group,"  deeply  interested  him.  It  renewed  his  inter- 
est in  California,  where  in  his  later  years  he  labored 
side  by  side  with  some  of  these  same  Home  Missiona- 
ries, whom  the  Trade  Wind  carried  on  their  way  to 
the  future  great  commonwealth  of  the  Pacific  coast. 

It  was  in  April  of  this  year  that  Mr.  Dwinell  began 
a  series  of  letters  to  The  Pacific,  the  oldest  religious 
newspaper  in  California.  His  nam  de plume  was  Xaum- 
keag,  the  Indian  name  of  Salem.  Over  thirty  of  these 
letters  were  written  and  published,  treating  f  f  current 


64  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

aflfairs  in  church  and  nation.  He  was  influenced  in 
writing  them  by  a  desire  to  help  the  brethren  in  the 
far  West,  in  their  efforts  to  establish  Christian  influen- 
ces in  the  cities  and  mining  camps  that  had  so  recently 
sprung  into  being. 

These  letters  were  cordially  received.  ' '  I  wish  to 
express  the  gratitude  of  the  editors  of  The  Pacific  for 
your  kind  letters,"  wrote  one  of  the  editorial  staff". 
"They  are  highly  appreciated,  and  are  spoken  of  with 
interest  here. "  "  We  are  working  for  our  lives  in  Cal- 
ifornia," wrote  this  same  friend.  "I  think  we  can 
save  The  Pacific  with  a  '  pull  all  together ' ;  but  while 
we  do  it,  or  try  to,  in  money  matters,  do  help  us  with 
the  pen." 

A  few  years  later  came  word  from  the  same  source  : 
"The  scope  and  contents  of  your  former  letters  are 
what  we  need  again.  Not  that  we  would  tax  3'ou  ev- 
ery mail  or  every  month,  perhaps,  but  that  you  would 
write  a  letter  now  and  then,  say  four  or  six  a  year. 
We  need  help  in  our  hard  warfare,  and  your  former 
faithful  correspondence  showed  that  you  felt  with  us 
and  for  us  in  it.  *  *  *  We  would  like,  if  it  were 
best,  to  subtract j'cv^  from  New  England  and  add  you  to 
our  little  Pacific  band  ;  but  if  this  may  not  be  we  will 
still  ask  3^ou  to  give  us  the  favor  of  half  a  dozen  letters 
or  so  a  year.      *     *     *      " 

His  pen  soon  announced  to  the  readers  of  TJie  Pacific 
"the  fact  of  returning  consciousness  and  activity," 
and  more  letters  followed,  which  gave  equal  satisfac- 
tion with  those  that  had  preceded. 

But  during  these  years  in  Salem  his  pen  was  occa- 
sionall}'  brought  into  requisition  by  papers  nearer 
home.  According  to  the  testimony  of  some  legislators, 
interested  in  the  cause  of  Temperance,  six  articles  writ- 


PASTORATE  IN  SALEM.   CORRESPONDENCE.   65 

ten  by  Mr.  Dwinell,  and  published  in  the  Salem  Reg- 
ister in  i85i-'52,  were  influential  in  arousing  public 
opinion  in  favor  of  introducing  into  Massachusetts  the 
"  Maine  Liquor  Law."  His  interest  in  the  cause  of 
Temperance,  as  evinced  by  his  addresses,  and  entries 
in  his  Joiirnal,  has  already  been  referred  to. 

In  1855  the  question  of  a  lay  delegation  in  the  Gen- 
eral Association  of  Massachusetts  was  raised,  and  set- 
tled in  the  negative.  Thereupon  it  was  proposed  to 
form  a  General  Conference,  in  which  the  churches  as 
well  as  ministers  should  be  represented.  In  the  dis- 
cussion that  followed  this  proposition  Dr.  Dwinell  gave 
vigorous  expression  to  his  love  for  the  Congregational 
polity.  In  four  articles,  published  in  The  Congrega- 
tionalist  of  Boston,  he  advocated  the  formation  of  a 
General  Conference.  "  It  is  in  relation  to  its  combining 
power,  its  ability  to  meet  the  social  wants  of  a  large 
Christian  community,  that  Congregationalism  in  Massa- 
chusetts is  faulty,  if  at  all.  As  a  system  it  needs  to  be 
complemented  by  something  which  shall  not  impair  its 
individualizing  power,  nor  the  integrity  of  the  individ- 
ual churches,  but  which  shall  take  them  up  into  a 
greater  and  living  unit}',  make  them  all  throb  with  a 
common  life,  and,  by  a  quick  sympath}^  experience 
each  other's  burdens.      *     *     * 

' '  We  do  not  want  ecclesiastical  centralization  ;  but 
centralization  of  some  kind  we  must  have.  The  habit 
of  the  age  demands  it,  and  it  is  not  a  habit  to  be  re- 
gretted, nor  to  be  resisted.  It  is  for  us  merely  a  ques- 
tion of  time. 

******** 

' '  A  General  Conference  would  be  composed  of  pastors 
and  layvien,  thus  having  the  very  life  blood  of  the 
churches  in  it.  And,  strange  to  say,  Congregational- 
ism in  Massachusetts,  which  boasts,  and  justly,  of  its 


66  ISRAEL    KDSON    DWINELL. 

power  to  develop  and  give  individuality  and  vStrength 
to  the  character  of  laymen,  has  no  general  organiza- 
tion in  which  they  are  represented.  The  clergy  have 
a  general  association,  but  the  laity,  of  whose  relative 
rank  in  our  system  so  much  is  said,  and  who,  theoret- 
ically, stand  on  the  same  ecclesiastical  level  with  the 
pastors,  are  ignored  and  dropped  out  of  the  account  in 
the  only  general  denominational  organization  we  have. 
This  is  a  glaring  inconsistency  in  our  system." 

These  letters  were,  in  fact,  an  earnest  plea  in  behalf 
of  the  Congregational  laymen  of  Massachusetts,  with- 
out whose  co-operation  he  felt  that  there  could  be  no 
true  fellowship  among  the  churches. 

For  this  fellowship  within  the  demonination  he  plead 
early  and  late.  In  Massachusetts  he  labored  to  pro- 
mote it  through  the  General  Conference.  He  firmly 
believed  in  applying  the  principle  to  Congregational- 
ism in  the  nation,  hence  his  interest  in  the  National 
Council  ;  and  he  most  cordially  welcomed  the  idea  of 
occasional  International  Conferences  like  that  in  IvOn- 
don  in  1891,  to  which  he  was  to  have  been  a  delegate, 
and  before  which  he  was  invited  to  read  a  paper,  his 
death  occurring  subsequent  to  the  invitation.  Else- 
where in  this  volume  will  be  found  an  address  upon 
Fellowship,  the  latest  production  of  his  pen  previous  to 
his  death. 

One  further  newspaper  correspondence,  occurring 
during  his  life  in  Salem,  should  have  notice  here. 

Among  Mr.  Dwinell's  classmates  in  Union  Semi- 
nary was  Alexander  Parkins.  In  1857  he  sent  to  his 
old  friend  in  Salem  a  copy  of  a  newspaper  published  in 
Clarke  County,  Virginia,  containing  his  salutatory  as 
editor.  In  this  editorial  there  was  such  a  bold  defense 
of  the  institution  of  slavery  on  moral  grounds,  that  the 
Massachusetts   pastor  was  moved  to  reply  at  length  to 


PASTORATE    IN    SALEM.       CORRESPONDENCE.        67 

the  arguments  of  his  friend.  This  letter  was  pubHshed 
in  the  \^irginia  paper,  and  its  author  was  invited — per- 
haps it  were  more  correct  to  say  challenged — to  enter 
into  a  discu.ssion  of  the  moral  aspects  of  .slaverj', 
through  the  columns  of  the  paper.  He  was  requested 
to  prepare  six  letters,  to  which  the  editor  promised  to 
reply. 

The  challenge  was  accepted,  and  tw^o  letters  were 
published,  under  the  title  of  "  Northern  Deliverance." 
Numbers  i  and  2.  The  letters  are  able  and  telling. 
His  residence  in  Tennessee  had  made  him  familiar  with 
the  system  of  slavery,  and  what  he  wrote  was  unfamil- 
iar reading  in  a  southern  paper.  The  replies  of  the 
editor  are  interesting  even  after  the  lapse  of  a  third  of 
a  centurj'. 

He  refers  to  his  northern  correspondent  as  "no  un- 
distinguished member  of  that  Priestly  Caste  at  the 
North,  which  at  this  time  in  matters  secular  and  polit- 
ical lords  it  over  the  northern  mind  with  a  more  than 
priestly — an  iron-clad  domination.  *  *  We  are  the 
people,  as  events  will  very  soon  prove,  upon  whom  de- 
pend more  than  any  others  the  destiny  and  progress  of 
the  race.  We  are  the  people  of  all  others  upon  whom 
the  world's  eye,  with  hope  and  admiration,  is  resting. 
If  there  is  any  people  of  whom  the  w^orld  stands  in  awe 
at  this  time  it  is  the  Southern  people  of  these  United 
States."  The  letters  from  the  North  proved  to  be  a  red 
rag.  The  community  evidently  did  not  sustain  the  ed- 
itor in  publishing  the  Northern — now  happily  the  Na- 
tional, view  of  slavery.  The  third  letter  was  sent  to  the 
South,  but  never  published,  nor  was  any  explanation 
ever  rendered  for  the  abrupt  termination  of  the  contro- 
versy. 

We  turn  again  to  his  Journal  of  those  days,   for  in 
them  we  look  behind  the  scenes  of  a  l)usy  ])ublic  life, 


68  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

and  discover  that  he  who  appeared  among  his  people  as 
a  devoted  Ambassador  of  Jesus  Christ  was  indeed  in 
close  communication  with  his  Master  and  in  deep  sym- 
path}"  with  his  work.  He  was  ever  enriching  his  own 
mind,  that  he  might  the  better  enjoy  and  present  truth. 
He  sought  to  lose  himself  in  his  work  so  that  men  might 
turn  from  the  messenger  to  the  message.  "  Maj^  I  lose 
sight  of  self  in  the  interests  of  thy  kingdom !"  ' '  Read 
Chalmers.  The  fire  still  burns  in  mj^  bones  to  do  more 
for  m}^  Master,  to  save  all  the  lost  moments  and  put 
them  to  account.  "  "  Closed  my  sermon  contrasting  the 
Merit  and  the  Christ  Systems.  Seldom  have  I  felt 
more  interest  in  a  subject,  and  never  have  I  felt  more 
deeply  my  dependence  on  Christ  as  my  only  hope.  If 
this  sermon  blesses  my  people  as  much  as  it  has  me,  it 
will  do  not  a  little  good." 

"  Preached  to-night  on  the  importance  of  the  doctrine 
of  Christ.  Little  blessed.  Hindered  by  an  effort  to 
speak  loud  enough  for  a  man  hard  of  hearing  to  hear. ' ' 

"  This  p.  M.  preached  the  sermon  prepared  week  be- 
fore last,  comparing  the  two  systems — Merit  and  Christ. 
Was  assisted  toward  the  close,  and  the  truth  seemed  to 
be  carried  to  many  hearts." 

Scarcely  a  month  passed  that  he  did  not  come  into 
communication  with  some  one  whose  conscience  was 
aroused,  whose  questioning  concerning  the  truth  he 
sought  to  answer,  and  to  whom  the  substance  of  his  lan- 
guage was  ' '  Behold  the  lyamb  of  God,  that  taketh  away 
the  sin  of  the  world."  Without  passing  through 
marked  seasons  of  religious  revival,  except  in  1858,  the 
church  and  congregation  were  kept  in  a  healthful  con- 
dition of  growth  and  prosperity  by  the  faithful  minis- 
trations of  its  pastors,  and  the  activity  of  many  of  its 
members. 

There  were  nearly  two   hundred  accessions  to  the 


PASTORATE  IN  SALEM.   CORRESPONDENCE.    69 

South  Church  during  the  fourteen  years  of  the  joint 
pastorate  of  Drs.  Kmerson  and  Dwinell.  Outside  of 
large  accessions  during  the  great  awakening  of  1858  the 
additions  averaged  one  a  month  for  thirteen  \'ears. 

Theological  controversy  in  Eastern  Massachusetts, 
early  in  the  century,  had  left  its  influence  on  the  minds 
of  man}'-  thoughtful  ones  ;  and  it  was  then,  as  now,  a 
thoughtful  community.  Out  of  his  experience  at  Salem 
Mr.  Dwinell  had  sufficient  material  for  a  volume  of 
"Pastor's  Sketches,"  in  character  not  unlike  those  of 
Spencer.  Men  and  women  stood  at  the  threshold  of 
the  church,  held  back  not  bj^  the  worldly  spirit,  nor  b)- 
cherished  evil  habits,  nor  by  the  inconsistencies  of 
Christians,  but  by  subtle  questions  that  demanded  clear 
reply,  or  b}^  alleged  skepticism  that  proved  to  be  faith 
eclipsed. 

"  Miss  P called.    Had  been  in  great  darkness,  at 

times  doubting  the  truth  of  revelation,  of  the  salvation 
by  Christ,  of  the  existence  of  God,  etc.  She  stated  that 
this  skepticism  had  given  her  great  a)ignish.  Yes,  she 
said,  that  is  the  word.  She  said  she  had  prayed  over  it, 
but  her  praj'ers  gave  her  no  relief,  and  she  was  about 
to  give  up  in  despair.  I  thought  I  would  bring  her  to 
self  knowledge.  I  asked  her  if  she  would  give  up 
what  love  to  God  and  faith  in  Christ  she  had,  be  it 
much  or  little.  She  said,  Not  for  the  zvorld,  although 
she  was  afraid  she  had  none.  I  then  approached  her 
in  another  way,  by  asking  her  what  was  the  difitrence 
between  the  desire  she  had  to  believe  and  love  Christ, 
and  loving  Him.  I  showed  her  that  there  was  no  dif- 
ference ;  that  the  one  involved  the  other,  both  being 
different  aspects  of  the  same  thing.  The  cloud  rose 
from  her  brow.  She  said  that  so  dark  and  skeptical 
had  been  her  thoughts,  she  had  been  afraid  to  divulge 
them  to  others." 


70  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

On  a  certain  Sabbath  lie  had  made  a  reference  to 
Channing  in  his  sermon.  The  following  day  he  re- 
ceived a  call  from  a  parishioner  who  had  misunderstood 
the  reference.  "  She  brought  the  third  volume  of  his 
life  to  convince  me  of  mistake.  I  had,  however,  pre- 
viously examined  the  work,  and  knew  clearly  whereof 
I  affirmed." 

Of  another  he  writes  : — "  His  mind  is  fond  of  run- 
ning into  doctrinal  difficulties  and  cavils  ;  more  so 
than  of  resting  on  Christ."  Another  came  to  him  in 
great  distress  of  mind,  being  troubled  about  the  second 
advent  of  our  Lord.  To  her  iuquirj^  "  What  do  you 
think  of  that  doctrine  ?  "  her  pastor  replied  :  "  It  is  not 
your  business  to  settle  this  or  that  item  of  belief,  but 
to  seekjirst  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and  then  all  need- 
ful things  will  follow  in  due  course."  Later  she  told 
him  that  from  that  time  it  seemed  as  if  she  had  received 
a  blow  on  her  heart  that  had  crushed  her.  ' '  vShe 
hoped  that  I  would  say  something  that  would  divert 
her  mind  from  the  pressure  of  duty.  But  God  made 
my  word  to  deepen  the  influences  of  His  Spirit  in  her 
heart.  She  said  that  it  had  cost  her  a  great  struggle 
to  come  here,  and  she  had  turned  back  three  times,  but 
finally  persevered."  This  inquirer  was  long  coming 
to  the  wicket  gate,  dnt  she  came. 

These  cases  will  serve  as  illustrations  of  the  religious 
conviction  and  unrest  of  many  Salem  pilgrims,  to 
whom  Mr.  Dwinell  was  an  Evangelist  accompanying 
them  to  the  wicket  gate  ;  a  Good-will  opening  the  gate 
and  pointing  the  way  to  the  house  of  the  Divine  Inter- 
preter, who  reveals  the  "place  somewhat  ascending" 
upon  which  stands  a  cross,  at  the  foot  of  which  ' '  the 
burden  is  loosed  from  off  the  shoulders  and  falls  off 
the  back." 


chapti<:r  IX. 

REVISITS  JONESBORO. 

Six  years  had  now  passed  since  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Uwinell.  They  had  not  revisited  Jonesboro, 
the  early  home  of  the  one,  the  scene  of  the  other's  life 
as  an  instructor. 

Gradually  the  purpose  was  formed  to  make  the  long 
journey,  and  plans  were  made  to  spend  the  spring  in 
Tennessee. 

"A  rich  black  silk  dress  came  as  a  present  to  Re- 
becca. She  thinks  it  is  an  indication  of  Providence 
that  we  should  go  to  Tennessee  this  season.  Miss 
Shepard  was  the  one  who  moved  in  the  matter.  How 
active  her  benevolence  and  how  warm  her  heart." 

' '  Begun  to  think  today  about  going  to  Tennessee 
this  spring. ' '  After  consultations  with  the  Senior  Pas- 
tor and  the  Church  Committee  the  trip  was  taken,  the 
church  giving  a  tangible  token  of  their  personal  inter- 
est in  his  welfare,  and  a  renewed  manifestation  of  their 
confidence  in  and  attachment  to  their  pastor  and  spirit- 
ual teacher. 

The  journey  from  New  York  was  via  Washington 
and  Richmond,  thence  on  the  James  river  to  Lynch- 
burg, between  banks  claimed  both  by  snow-banks  and 
spring  flowers.  Out  from  the  furious  snows  of  a  late 
northern  April  they  came,  after  a  week  of  travel,  into 
the  soft  air  of  Tennessee.  This  change  of  climate  and 
rest  from  labor  were  especially  valuable  to  Mr.  Dwi- 


72  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

nell.  The  climate  of  Salem  with  its  raw  east  winds 
had  alread}^  begun  to  affect  his  throat  and  lungs  unfav- 
orabl}'.  Frequent  colds  that  were  not  easily  overcome 
had  begun  to  cause  him  some  anxiel3\  Conscientious 
to  the  last  degree,  nothing  short  of  absolute  necessity- 
restrained  him  from  meeting  every  engagement  to 
preach,  however  severe  the  weather  and  however  irri- 
tated his  throat.  The  southern  air  was  welcome  balm, 
but  as  usual  vacation  found  him  preaching,  and  on  the 
Sabbath  he  was  oftener  in  the  pulpit  than  in  the  pew. 

On  the  return  home,  while  traveling  by  packet  on 
the  James  river,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dwinell  obtained  their 
last  glimpse  of  slavery  in  its  more  repulsive  form.  .  In 
his  Journal,  the  former  refers  to  his  great  distress  at 
seeing  several  large  gangs  of  negroes — women  and 
children  as  well  as  men — under  slave-drivers,  laboring 
in  the  corn  and  tobacco  fields.  In  the  old  Jonesboro 
home  which  had  been  revisited,  the  humane  master, 
upon  his  death-bed  a  few  years  before,  had  made  pro- 
vision whereby  all  the  servants  on  the  Maxwell  estate 
should  secure  their  freedom  ;  but  slavery  in  its  milder 
as  well  as  in  its  severer  tj-pes  was  abhorrent  to  one 
who  had  been  reared  among  the  Green  Mountains. 
"God  does  not  make  the  new-born  being  a  slave,"  he 
wrote  ;  "  it  is  the  legal  code  which  does  that."  "  The 
system  as  it  exists  in  the  South  is  a  system  of  enslav- 
ing as  well  as  slave  holding,  and  as  such  is  inconsist- 
ent with  the  obvious  rights  of  the  enslaved,  as  such  is 
unreasonable  and  unwarranted." 

The  home-coming  was,  as  usual,  a  joyous  one  to  the 
travelers  and  the  waiting  parish.  The  A^ears  that  fol- 
lowed brought  abundance  of  work,  the  details  of  which 
are  sufficientl}^  indicated  in  what  has  been  already  pre- 
sented. 


REVISITS   JONESBORO.  73 

Among  those  who  sought  him  out  and  visited  him 
was  his  college  friend,  Rev.  A.  B.  Rich,  whom  he  calls 
his  old  friend  and  religious  adviser,  at  that  time  pastor 
at  Beverly.  He  was  among  the  friends  of  whom  he 
never  lost  sight.  During  the  years  '57  and  '58  Rev. 
C.  L.  Goodell — then  a  student  at  Andover  Seminary — 
came  from  time  to  time  to  the  home  in  Salem.  Con- 
cerning one  of  these  visits  Mr.  Dwinell  writes  : 

"June  27,  1858.  Bro.  Goodell  of  Andover  Theo- 
logical Seminary  spent  the  Sabbath  with  me.  He 
preached  in  the  morning  on  the  text,  'Keep  thy  heart 
with  all  diligence  for  out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life. ' 
His  voice  and  manner  were  ver}'  impressive  and  at- 
tractive, and  his  matter  good  and  somewhat  novel — at 
least  fresh. 

"  In  the  evening  he  preached  another  excellent  ser- 
mon :  '  Teaching  for  doctrines  the  commandments  of 
men.'  I  think  Brother  Goodell  is  destined  to  be  a 
useful  laborer  in  the  vine3'ard,  and  to  make  a  more 
than  ordinarily  favorable  impression." 

Upon  his  return  to  Andover  Mr.  Goodell  wrote  to  Mr. 
Dwinell  a  letter,  which  reveals  his  own  consecrated  spirit 
and  his  confidence  in  the  counsels  of  his  Salem  friend  : 
"Since  my  pleasant  visit  to  Salem,  I  have  thought 
much  of  what  I  said  to  you  on  the  subject  of  place,  and 
feared  lest  I  seemed  to  you  to  deny  my  Savior,  and  as- 
pire beyond  my  measure  of  strength  or  grace.  I  may 
deceive  myself — it  is  verj-  easy  to  on  such  a  subject ; 
but  it  is  my  daily  prayer  to  be  a  useful  and  devoted 
minister  of  Christ,  and  to  receive  that  discipline  of 
God's  hand,  ivliatever  it  may  be,  which  I  need  to  over- 
come and  lie  passive  in  his  hand,  and  yield  an  entire 
and  cheerful  obedience  to  his  will.  And  now  as  the 
work  op?ns  before  me,  I  would  begin  at  the  foot  of  the 
6 


74  ISRAEL   KDSON    DWINELL. 

cross,  as  I  love  my  Savior  and  hope  for  strength  only  in 
Him.  My  real  desire,  in  my  consultation  with  you,  is 
to  spread  before  you  the  whole  subject — since  you  were 
kind  enough  to  manifest  an  interest  in  me,  and  also 
know  all  from  experience — and  receive  your  counsel, 
for  I  knew^  you  would  not  consciously  advise  me 
wrong.  I  would  know  my  whole  duty  to  Christ  as  his 
servant,  and  meet  it.  I  can  have  strength  and  be 
happy  only  as  I  do.  But  more  than  that,  his  love  con- 
strains me.  I  left  you  feeling  that  I  had  carried  the 
impression  that  I  was  worthy,  and  could  get  what  the 
world  calls  a  good  place,  and  that  it  was  not  my  su- 
preme desire  to  do  ni}^  Master's  will.  Not  for  my  own 
sake,  but  for  Christ's  sake,  through  whose  grace  alone 
I  am  what  I  am,  I  would  not  have  you  feel  so.  When 
I  first  thought  of  being  a  minister  I  was  too  proud  to 
tell  all  my  friends  that  I  was  to  be  a  poor  servant  of 
my  Master.  It  was  a  bitter  sin.  It  has  cost  me  much 
sorrow.  Now  that  I  am  to  commence  the  VAork  in- 
deed, I  would  not  repeat  my  sin  ;  for  to  Christ  I  owe 
ally  and  whatever  else  fails,  I  must  not  be  untrue  to 
Hitn.  M)^  da}^  in  Salem  though  a  very  anxious  was  a 
very  happy  one.  I  am  not  unmindful  of  your  kind 
and  considerate  attention  to  me.  I  am  happy  that  God 
has  so  blessed  you  in  your  labors,  and  shall  always 
hear  with  pleasure  of  your  growing  usefulness  in  the 
cause  of  our  Redeemer.     *     *     * 

' '  Ever  truly  yours, 

"  C.   L.  GOODELL." 

The  ordination  of  Mr.  Goodell  occurred  at  New  Brit- 
ain, Conn.,  Feb.  2,  1859.  Mr.  Dwinell  was  invited  to 
sit  on  the  Council  and  to  preach  the  sermon.  In  his 
Journal  he  refers  to. the  event,  saying  :   "  Bro.  Goodell 


REVISITS   JONESBORO.  75 

appeared  well  in  the  examination,  seeing  through  the 
questions,  answering  them  briefly  and  to  the  point, 
and  knowing  when  he  had  answered  them.  The 
preaching  of  the  sermon  I  did  not  enjoy  much,  being 
too  much  fagged  out  to  begin  with.  The  other  exer- 
cises passed  off  very  well. ' '  Of  the  discourse  Mr.  Good- 
ell  wrote  the  following  day:  "Mr.  Dwnnell's  sermon 
w-as  excellent." 


CHAPTER  X. 

ASSOCIATE    KDITOR,    CONTRIBUTOR. 

In  the  autumn  of  1858  Mr.  Dwinell  joined  the  Win- 
throp  Club  of  Boston.  Its  objects  are  social,  literary 
and  aesthetic,  from  a  religious  point  of  view.  It  has 
included  in  its  membership  some  of  the  most  eminent 
Congregational  ministers  in  the  vicinity'  of  Boston.  At 
the  time  referred  to  Rev.  A.  L.  Stone  D.D.  was  Pres- 
ident, and  Rev.  H.  M.  Dexter  D.D.  was  Secretary. 
The  fellowship  of  kindred  minds  and  hearts  in  the 
Winthrop  Club  was  a  great  stimulus  to  Mr.  Dwinell. 
He  felt  honored  by  being  receiv^ed  into  membership 
with  them,  and  was  himself  an  honor  to  the  Club.  Aft- 
er his  removal  to  California  he  was  still  treated  as  a 
member,  and  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  received  no- 
tices of  their  annual  meetings. 

Councils  of  ordination  or  of  installation  were  not  infre- 
quent in  the  vicinity  of  Salem,  and  the  South  Church 
pastors  often  had  a  part  in  the  public  services.  Literary 
institutes  and  lyceums  sought  the  services  of  Mr.  Dwi- 
nell from  time  to  time.  Occasionally  he  prepared  with 
his  usual  carefulness  an  article  to  be  offered  for  publi- 
cation to  the  Bibliotheca  Sacra  or  the  New  Eiiglaiidcr, 
in  each  of  which  there  were  published,  during  his 
Salem  pastorate,  three  articles. 

In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  trace  the  his- 
tory of  a  rejected  manuscript.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  one  of  the  Associate  Editors  of  the  Bibliotheca 


78  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

Sacra,  and  his  contributions  had  been  for  years  wel- 
comed b}^  the  Editors  in  Chief ;  }-et  it  was  not  alwaj'S  ' 
so,   as  will  appear  in  extracts  from  his  Journal.     Suc- 
cess, oftener  than  we  think,  has  its  beginning  in  de- 
feat.    Disappointment  is  a  spur  to  achievement. 

"  1853,  April  2.  Have  been  occupied  this  week  in 
divers  things,  but  mainly  in  preparing  a  plan  and  about 
one  third  finishing  a  sermon  for  Fast  day  on  ' '  The 
Claims  of  Religion  on  the  State,"  a  subject  lying 
rather  out  of  my  line  and  calling  for  considerable 
fresh  thought. ' ' 

"  April  7.  Fast  Day.  I  preached  this  morning  on 
"  The  Claims  of  Religion  on  the  State."  Quite  a  large 
and  attentive  audience." 

"June  4.  In  the  p.  M.  I  preached  my  Fast  day  ser- 
mon. I  had  been  requested  several  times  to  repeat 
it,  and  that  none  might  come  in  the  p.  m.  expecting  a 
fresh  discourse,  I  gave  notice  of  the  repetition  at  the 
close  of  the  morning  service.  I  think  there  were  those 
who  were  grateful  for  this  notice,  as  their  seats  were 
unoccupied  in  the  evening." 

"Oct.  16.     Preached  in  Lowell. " 

"  Oct.  17.  Came  home  TvVr  Andover.  Had  a  dispo- 
sition to  offer  my  discussion,  "  The  Claims  of  Religion 
on  the  State,"  to  the  editors  of  the  Bibliotiieca  Sacra, 
for  publication.  I  felt  very  timid  in  doing  it,  but 
fought  my  way  up  through  all  scruples,  and  resolved 
to  call  on  Mr.  Taj'lor,  senior  editor,  but  heard  he  was 
not  in  town  after  reaching  Andover  ;  hence  there  was 
no  other  course  left  but  to  beard  the  lion  (Prof.  Park — 
I  was  afraid  of  him)  in  his  den.  On  calling  at  his 
house,  however,  I  learned  that  he  was  not  in  town.  I 
then  called  at  Mr.  Taylor's,  and  rejoiced  to  learn  that 
he  was  within.     He  had  no  time  to  give  to  the  subject 


ASSOCIATE    EDITOR,   CONTRIBUTOR.  79 

today,  but  wished  me  to  leave  the  niaiiuscript  for  future 
examination.  This  was  much  against  ray  will.  But 
my  purpose  was  made  up  to  offer  it,  and  I  would  not 
back  out.  I  feel  in  this  way  :  if  it  is  rejected  it  will  do 
me  good  ;  if  published,  I  believe  it  will  do  others  good- 
So  I  very  composedly  abide  the  decision,  sure,  what- 
ever it  may  be,  it  will  be  the  means  of  good. " 

"  Oct.  23.  I  received  yesterda)-  the  manuscript  I 
had  left  with  Mr.  Taylor  in  Andover,  accompanied  by 
a  note  in  which  he  saj's  he  had  read  it  with  much  in- 
terest, and  he  thought  the  views  very  important,  and 
the  train  of  thought  very  happy.  It  had  not  been  sub- 
mitted to  Prof.  Park,  but  was  returned  to  me  as  I  re- 
quested, for  revision,  etc.     This  quite  encouraged  me. ' ' 

"Dec.  31.  Received  the  manuscript  (referred  to 
above)  from  Prof.  Park.  Rejected,  but  eased  off  with 
complimentary  roundings,  such  as,  "■excellent,''  ''very 
good,"  fitted  for  the  New  Euglander,  etc.,  but  too  gen- 
eral to  suit  the  character  of  the  Bibliotlieca  Sacra."  I 
trust  that  this  experience  will  do  me  good,  and  mod- 
erate my  ambition,  if  nothing  more." 

This  article,  rejected  by  the  Bibliotlieca  Sacra,  was 
subsequently  accepted  by  the  N'ew  Englafider,  and  ap- 
peared in  the  issue  for  November,  1854. 

Following  is  an  extract : 

"  We  have  thus  passed  in  review  several  of  the  par- 
ticulars into  which  the  great  claim  of  religion,  that  the 
State  should  exert  a  vast  uplifting  moral  influence,  di- 
vides itself.  We  have  seen  that  the  State  should  not 
only  meet  the  public  conscience,  but  join  on  to  it  at  the 
point  of  its  highest  and  most  healthful  expression,  and 
in  such  a  way  to  carry  it  higher  ;  that  as  far  as  it  goes 
it  should  act  in  accordance  with  the  principles  of  right 
and  justice,  and  present  to  its  subjects  the  .sublime  and 


So  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

elevating  spectacle  of  State  innocence  and  righteous- 
ness ;  and  that  in  all  possible  cases  it  should  make 
the  line  of  legislation  coincident  with  the  line  of  ac- 
knowleged  moral  principle,  and  thus  bear  up  the  public 
conscience  to  a  loftier  altitude. 

' '  For  the  purpose  of  gathering  the  whole  into  one 
view,  let  us  bj^  rapid  steps  traverse  again  the  region 
over  which  this  discussion  has  led  us.  Religion  claims 
of  the  State,  as  the  golden  consummation,  that  it  should 
be  regenerate  and  hoh'  ;  but  this  result  is  reached  onlj- 
in  the  ideal  future.  Meanwhile  it  contents  itself  with 
subordinate  and  inferior  demands  ;  on  the  one  hand 
negatively,  that  it  should  not  fitfully  and  foolishly 
snatch  at  visionary  millennial  ideas,  and  force  them 
into  impracticable  law  ;  that  it  should  not  thrust  itself 
between  man  and  God,  and  embarrass  his  responsibility 
to  Him  ;  and  that  it  should  not  interfere  with  those 
moral  questions  which  are  detached  from  the  rights  of 
others  and  the  public  weal  :  and  on  the  other  hand,  pos- 
itively, that  it  should  join  itself  on  the  topmost  wave  of 
the  public  conscience  to  swell  a  higher  tide  ;  that  it 
should  act  in  strict  accordance  with  justice  and  right ; 
and  so  lift  the  people  to  a  higher  justice  and  right ; 
and  that  it  should  in  complex  civil  and  moral  cases  be 
careful  to  act  on  the  moral  principle  involved,  and  thus 
make  law  itself  a  vast  moral  leverage  to  lift  them  still 
higher  heavenward. 

"  A  State  meeting  these  demands  would  be  a  sublime 
spectacle,  such  as  the  earth  has  not  witnessed,  and  may 
not  witness  soon.  But  what  part  of  these  claims  can 
religion  dispense  with  ?  In  what  particular  have  they 
been  exaggerated  ?  Have  the  negative  been  made  too 
low,  or  the  positive  too  high?  If,  then,  these  are  the 
claims  of  religion,  we  have  here  the  principles  on  which 


ASSOCIATE    EDITOR,    CONTRIBUTOR.  8 1 

all  good  men  should  combine  for  harmonious  and  health- 
ful political  action.  Here  the  radical  and  conservative 
should  meet  and  ioin  hands  ;  the  radical,  for  if  these  po- 
sitions are  true,  legislation  in  advance  of  them  would 
defeat  its  own  ends,  and  dwarf  rather  than  elevate  so- 
ciety ;  the  conservative,  for  if  they  are  true,  legislation 
below  them  would  also  defeat  itself  b}'  coming  short  of 
a  healthful  moral  vitality,  and  thus  weaken  and  impair 
the  State,  and  in  the  end  destroy  it. 

"No  doubt  the  nois}'  and  inconsiderate  importuni- 
ties on  the  part  of  radicals,  and  the  equally  impatient 
and  inconsiderate  refusals  on  the  part  of  the  conserva- 
tives, would  mutually  give  wa}-  and  melt  into  one,  if 
these  opposing  elements  of  society  should  arise  to  a  calm 
and  dispassionate  contemplation  and  espousal  of  truth. 
And  it  is  believed  that  if  the  friends  of  religion  and  the 
friends  of  the  State  would  cahnly  look  at  the  nature  of 
the  relation  of  the  former  to  the  latter,  they  might  easily 
find  a  common  line  of  procedure  lying  not  far  from  one 
side  of  the  one  here  indicated  ;  walk  in  harmony  and 
love  ;  the  State  be  made  vigorous  and  healthful  by  their 
union  ;  innocence  be  protected,  conscience  vindicated, 
and  society  borne  rapidly  forward  up  the  ascending 
scale  of  intelligence,  virtue  and  piet}-.  " 

A  year  later  the  JVt'za  Eiiglandir  pubHshed  a  second 
article  written  b}^  Mr.  Dwinell.  It  has  the  title  :  ' '  Self- 
Development,  Not  Aggressio)i,  the  True  Policy  of  Our 
Nation." 

' '  The  characteristic  difference  between  the  two 
methods, "  he  says,  "  may  be  briefly  stated  in  this  way  : 
The  one  seeks  by  some  means  —  by  arms,  acquisitions, 
alliances  —  to  bring  greatness  to  itself;  the  other  by 
some  means  —  by  the  arts  and  vitalities  of  peace  —  to 
bring  greatness  out  of  itself. 


82  ISRAEL    KDSOX    DWINELL. 

' '  The  latter  we  regard  as  the  true  policy'  for  every 
nation  to  adopt,  but  especially  lor  this  one.'' 

The  object  of  the  article  was  to  enforce  and  illustrate 
this  position,  and  to  point  out  some  of  the  sources  of 
danger  that  our  country  may  eventually  be  drawn  into 
b}^  the  opposite  course. 

"  Patriotism,"  he  sa3^s,  "  cannot  be  imported.     The 
State  cannot  stipulate  with  its  neighbors  to  have  its  cit- 
izens made  thoughtful,  inte  ligent  and  wise.     It  cannot 
by  some  brilliant  stroke  of  arms  rob  them  of  their  vir- 
tue, and  distribute  it  within  its  own  borders.    It  cannot 
seize  on  piety  abroad,  and  compel  it  to  grace  its  trium- 
phal procession  on  its  return  home.      It  may  gather  from 
the     nation    choice,     religious,    moral    and     scientific 
teachers  ;  but  this  does  not  make  the  people  sound  and- 
strong  at  heart,  sound  and  strong  in  mind  and  will. 
That  can  only  be  developed.     It  must  be  wrought  out 
from  within.     It  must  be  a  growth,  and  requires  time, 
and  quiet,  and  effort.     It  is,  therefore,  a  general  princi- 
ple, that  true  national  strength  is  the  result  of  growth 
and  not  of  aggression." 

In  1S57  he  ventiired  to  "  beard  the  lion  in  his  den" 
once  more.  An  article,  ' '  Advance  in  the  Type  of  Re- 
vealed Religion, "  was  accepted  by  Prof.  Park  and  pub- 
lished. So  able  a  critic  as  Prof.  Shedd,  then  of  Ando- 
ver  Seminar}',  wrote  concerning  it :  "  May  I  thank  you 
for  the  great  pleasure  and  profit  I  derived  from  your  ar- 
ticle in  the  last  BibliotJieca  Sacra.  It  has  been  read 
with  much  interest  by  thoughtful  persons,  I  tappen  to 
know." 

The  concluding  paragraphs  of  this  article  are  as  fol- 
lows : 

"It  is  then,  one  of  the  leading  features  of  Jewish 
piet}',  that  it  busies  itself  in  reverently  copying  forms. 


ASSOCIATE    EDITOR,   CONTKIBl  TOR.  83 

It  has  a  rule  for  everything.  It  has  a  chart  of  duty, 
and  shows  its  genuineness  by  sincerely  threading  its 
lines  and  never  crossing  them.  It  is  always  looking  at 
its  map,  and  trying  to  steer  its  course  according  to  it. 
It  is  a  leading  feature  of  Christian  piety,  on  the  other 
hand,  that  it  aims  to  be  true  to  Christian  principle. 
It  is  not  copying  a  form,  but  living  a  spiritual  law.  It 
thinks  less  of  the  deed  than  of  the  heart.  It  varies  the 
act  at  pleasure,  provided  that  it  be  a  true  expression  of 
a  true  spirit.  Under  the  one  system  the  design  was  that 
the  observance  should  draw  the  character  after  it  and 
mould  it ;  under  the  other,  the  design  is  first  to  secure 
a  right  character,  and  then  allow  right  observance  to 
flow  from  it.  The  one  looked  more  at  what  man  does  ; 
the  other  at  what  he  is. 

"  Again,  in  the  one  case,  true  piety  is  exclusively  to 
be  looked  for  within  a  single  visible  national  commun- 
ity, and  true  worship  to  center  around  a  single  temple  ; 
in  the  other,  piet}^  is  not  confined  to  communities  but 
dispositions,  nor  worship  to  temples  but  hearts.  Hence, 
in  the  one  instance,  much  was  thought  of  an  uninter- 
rupted line  of  outward  descent  ;  in  the  other,  much  of 
this,  and  onh^  of  this — a  fresh  and  personal  spiritual 
birth  and  life. 

' '  We  may  also  see  the  greater  spirituality  of  the  gos- 
pel piety  in  the  greater  spirituality  of  the  gospel  reve- 
lation. Truth  is  the  food  of  piety.  And  the  truth  of 
the  Old  Testament,  taken  as  a  whole,  is  far  less  naked, 
concentrated,  spiritual,  than  that  of  the  New.  In  the 
one  case  it  appears  in  the  shell  ;  in  the  other,  in  the  ker- 
nel ;  in  the  one,  thrown  into  outward  and  concrete 
forms  ;  in  the  other,  having  a  purer  and  more  faithful 
expression.  Even  the  moral  law,  which  in  the  Old 
Testament  is  broken  up  and  expanded  into  ten  concrete 


84  ISRAEL    EDSON    UWINELL. 

bulks,  is  in  tbe  New  condensed  and  brought  out  in  two 
simple  spiritual  elements — love  to  God  and  to  man. 
In  the  former  one  finds  truths,  in  the  latter  Truth. 

"  Moreover  the  piety  of  the  earlier  and  ruder  period 
was  largely  dependent  on  symbols  and  helps  addressed 
to  the  senses.  God  instructed  men  in  righteousne'^s 
with  sensible  illustrations.  The  Mosaic  was  emphatic- 
alh^  the  pictorial  dispensation  addressed  to  pietj'  in  its 
childhood  ;  and  the  designs  were  impressive,  forcible, 
thrilling,  rather  than  delicate,  chaste,  artistic.  But 
during  the  gospel  period  such  symbols  are  not  relied 
on,  and  piety  is  left  to  go  over  to  and  rest  on  spiritual 
supports.  God  has  carried  it  bej'ond  the  primer  dispen- 
sation. Faith  has  little  to  aid  it,  short  of  the  unseen 
and  eternal.  It  has  lost  its  material  wings,  and  can  fly 
onl}^  as  it  has  spiritual  ones. 

"  And  again,  the  ideal  future  that  fills  the  mind  of 
the  Christian  is  far  more  sp  ritual  than  that  which  fills 
the  mind  of  the  Jew.  The  latter  had  in  view  a  scene 
of  earthh'  splendors,  and  the  pageantry  and  magnifi- 
cence of  an  earthly  Messiah,  under  w^hose  realm  all 
other  nations  should  hide  their  heads.  And  his  relig- 
ious aspirations  and  experiences  dropped  down  to  a 
kindred  level.  But  the  ideal  future  of  the  former  takes 
in  the  spiritual  triumphs  of  the  cress  in  this  world,  and 
the  spiritual  glory  that  is  to  follow  in  the  next.  Its 
reaches  are  spiritual,  heavenly,  divine  ;  and  hence  his 
aspirations  and  experiences,  swinging  in  a  kindred  orb- 
it, rise  to  the  spiritual,  heavenh'  and  divine  also.  The 
church  is  far,  however,  from  having  exhausted  the  spir- 
ituality of  the  gospel.  Higher  and  eyen  higher  attain- 
ments in  this  direction  lie  before  her.  And  here  again 
w^e  remark,  that,  to  make  them  she  needs  no  new  rev- 
elation, only    a  higher  reaching  after  and  possessing 


ASSOCIATE    EDITOR,   CONTRIBUTOR.  85 

of  the  spiritual  elements  of  the  word  of  God  alread}' 
in  her  hands. 

"  In  this  way,  then,  we  answer  the  question,  'How- 
has  God  proceeded  to  give  religion  to  man  ? '  What 
wisdom  is  here  displaj^ed  by  Him  !  What  adaptation  ! 
What  benevolence  !  And  how  wise,  too,  to  select  a  sin- 
gle people  in  the  first  instance,  isolate  them,  and  carry 
en  a  process  of  religious  training  with  them  alone,  un- 
distracted  by  foreign  interference,  till  they  had  reached 
sufficient  maturit}'  to  allow  the  removal  of  all  restric- 
tions, and  receive  the  commission  to  carry  the  gospel 
to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  And  how  encouraging  to 
the  modern  church,  on  whom  this  commission  is  de- 
volved, to  consider  that,  when  she  carries  the  gospel  to 
the  heathen,  it  is  not  elementary  religion  she  gives 
them,  but  religion  with  thousands  of  3'ears'  growth  upon 
it  !  It  may  require  a  century  for  her  to  give  it  to  them, 
or  for  them  to  receive  it  ;  but  when  it  is  received 
they  do  not  get  the  baldness  and  simplicity  of  the  Pa- 
triarchal faith  ;  they  do  not  get  Judaism,  or  the  contro- 
versies of  the  Augustinian  period  ;  the}'  do  not  get  Mo- 
nasticism,  nor  the  superstitions  of  the  Middle  Ages, 
nor  the  intolerance  of  later  times.  They  get  the  spir- 
itual and  living  religion  which  w^e  have.  The\-  step 
at  a  stride  across  all  the  distance  traversed  by  the 
church  in  religious  growth.  The}'  emerge  at  once  from 
the  moral  region  of  the  flood,  or  beyond  it,  to  the  sum- 
mit of  the  nineteenth  century. 

"  We  close  our  rapid  survey  by  remarking  that  it  be- 
comes the  modern  church  to  remember  her  true  histor- 
ical position.  The  ages  have  been  struggling  for  her. 
The  victories  of  the  past  are  hers.  All  time  has  been 
in  travail  to  give  her  birth.  Her  proper  place  and  at- 
titude is  to  stand  on  the  summit  of  the  religious  achieve- 


36  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

ments  hitherto  made,  with  her  eye  gleaming  with  Di- 
vine light,  fixed  on  higher  achievements  in  the  future, 
r^et  her  not  turn  backwards.  Let  her  not  take  to  her 
bosom  any  of  the  old  and  lower  types  of  religion,  nor 
hold  to  them  with  clutched  hands.  L,et  her  live  more 
in  the  future  than  the  past,  obeying  the  Divine  direc- 
tion which  Moses  was  commanded  to  communicate  to 
the  ancient  church,  but  which  contains  the  spirit  of 
God's  perennial  call  to  the  church  of  every  age  : 
'  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel  that  they  go  for- 
ward.' " 

In  the  New  Englander  ior  November,  1857,  there  ap- 
peals from  Mr.  Dwnnell's  pen,  an  able  and  forcible  arti- 
cle on  "  Spiritualism  Tested  by  Christianity." 

Mr.  Dwinell  states  at  the  outset  that  he  shall  enter 
into  no  controllers}'  wath  Spiritualists  in  reference  to 
the  alleged  phenomena  or  "  manifestations."  His  po- 
sition is,  admitting  more  or  less  of  them  to  be  "  pure" 
and  genuine — a  point  which  he  does  not  here  attempt 
to  prove  or  disprove — that  there  is  yet  abundant  evidence 
to  satisfy  a  Christian  community  that  they  are  not  at- 
tributable to  the  agency  of  disembodied  spirits.  His 
controversy  wdth  Spiritualism  is  in  regard  to  its  claims 
as  a  religious  system,  not  the  phenomena  involved. 

The  objections  which  he  makes  on  this  ground  are  : 
that  it  presents  a  religious  sj^stem  which  is  radically 
inconsistent  with  that  of  the  Bible  ;  that  there  is  a  fun- 
damental defect  in  its  logic — it  being  of  that  primitive 
and  precipitate  kind,  where  the  love  of  wonder  over- 
powers that  of  science  ;  that  it  is  a  progression  back- 
wards, a  reversal  of  chronology  and  history,  to  a  style 
of  culture  and  theology  before  and  below  Revelation  ; 
that  the  disclosures,  both  in  manner  and  contents, 
clearly  indicate  the  source  of  the  intelligence  in  the  phe- 


ASSOCIATE    EDITOR,  CONTRIBUTOR.  87 

nomeiia  to  be  in  the  circle,  not  in  the  spirits  outside  of 
it  ;  that  it  is  simple  materialism  ;  and,  lastly,  that  its 
influence  in  the  lower,  corporeal  and  mental  sphere  is 
injurious, — and  in  the  higher,  spiritual  and  religious 
sphere,  unsettling  and  fatal.  These  several  points  are 
argued  and  illustrated  with  a  force  and  felicity  indica- 
tive of  a  strong,  thoughtful  and  cultivated  mind,  and 
skillful  reasoning  powders. 

In  conclusion,  Mr.  Dwinell  ventures  some  sensible 
advice  in  reference  to  the  way  in  which  this  field  of 
research  should  be  occupied.  "  Here,  it  may  be,"  he 
says,  "  is  a  subtle  and  difficult  department  of  natural 
science  to  be  explored  and  laid  open.  It  is  no  reproach 
to  the  intelligence,  the  ability,  or  the  honesty  of  persons 
in  the  ordinary  walks  of  life,  if  they  should  feel  that 
they  are  incompetent  to  do  it.  And  no  less  incompe- 
tent are  judges,  lawyers,  physicians  and  clergymen, 
who  have  been  trained  in  other  professions,  and  who, 
from  the  fact  that  they  have  succeeded  and  become  emi- 
nent therein,  where  their  specialty  is,  are  not  the  more 
but  the  less  qualified  to  investigate  the  subject.  It  is  a 
vein  for  the  working  of  the  natural  philosopher.  None 
but  those  who  intend  to  give  years  to  it  as  a  branch  of 
science,  and  to  study  it,  as  far  as  in  them  lies,  as  Bow- 
ditch  studied  mathematics,  or  Newton  astronomy,  or 
Kant  the  mind,  should  throw  away  their  time  on  it  ; 
for  no  good  will  come  of  superficial  dabbling  in  it,  only 
evil.  I^et  the  natural  and  mental  philosopher  take 
hold  of  it;  and  others,  who  may  be  destitute  of  the 
qualifications,  leisure,  or  inclination  thoroughly  to  in- 
vestigate it,  and  who  have  accredited  science  at  hand 
as  much  as  they  can  master,  can  afford  to  await  the 
results  of  his  more  thorough  and  successful  studies." 
'"Baptism  a  Consecratory  Rite''  appeared  in  the  Bib- 


88  ISKAKL    EDSON    UWINELL. 

liotheca  Sacra  in  January,  1858,  and  "Union  of  the 
Divine  and  the  Human  in  the  Externals  of  Christi- 
anity "  was  published  in  the  same  (Quarterly  in  July, 
1859. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Association  of  Massa- 
chusetts, in  1859,  Mr.  Dwinell  read  a  paper  on  the 
''Adaptation  of  Conc^regatiojialism  for  the  Work  f  Home 
Missions.''  It  was  a  time  of  much  anxiety  and  feel- 
ing on  the  subject  of  co-operation  with  the  Presby- 
terians. Wise,  healthful  words  were  needed  from  those 
who  undertook  to  discuss  the  subject.  The  article 
attracted  the  attention  of  such  men  as  Drs.  Badger, 
Todd,  Blagden  and  Pres.  Humphrey,  who  expressed 
their  gratification.  It  was  repeatedl}^  said  that  the 
paper  gave  the  key-note  to  the  meeting.  At  the  re- 
quest of  the  editors,  it  was  soon  published  in  the  Con- 
gregational  Quarterly,  in  October,  1859. 

An  essay  on  the  ' '  Importance  of  Christian  Fellow- 
ship among  the  Churches,"  was  read  before  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  Massachusetts  at  Springfield,  in 
September,  i860,  and  was  published  with  the  minutes 
of  that  body. 

The  last  of  his  published  articles  w^hile  in  Salem  was 
a  sermon  delivered  to  his  own  congregation,  and  at 
their  request  published  as  a  pamphlet. 

It  is  entitled  "  Hope  for  Our  Country.''''  His  address 
was  delivered  October  19,  1862,  during  dark  and  try- 
ing days  in  the  Civil  War. 

Its  words  were  those  of  the  Christian  Patriot,  whose 
faith  in  the  ultimate  triumph  of  freedom  and  in  the 
abiding  unity  of  our  country  never  failed  him. 

"I  cannot  believe,"  he  says,  "no,  never,  never, 
that  this  is  the  time  when  God  will  overthrow  Fiee- 
dom,  and  the  ideas  of  Right  and  Humanity  He   has 


ASSOCIATE    EDITOR,  CONTRIBUTOR.  89 

been  slowly  working  out  into  practice  for  thousands 
of  years,  and  inaugurate  the  Kvangel  of  Slavery,  the 
Satanic  creed  of  Despotism  and  Selfishness." 

"Let  us,  then,  hold  up  our  faces  where  the  light 
from  above  may  fall  on  them  and  be  reflected  around 
us;  and  no  longer  carry  them  downward  where  earthly 
mists  and  exhalations  darken  them,  and  thus  use  us  in 
diffusing  and  increasing  the  gloom.  And  as  we  thus 
become  strong  within,  let  those  around  us,  let  the 
Cause,  kt  our  Country  have  the  benefit  of  it.  Let  us 
bear  our  part  of  the  troubles  of  the  times  with  firm 
hearts  ;  quicken  and  encourage  one  another,  and  give 
the  Government,  our  brave  men  in  the  field,  and  all  in 
earnest  in  suppressing  the  rebellion,  the  advantage  of 
a  cheerful  and  hopeful  spirit,  warm  sympathy,  and 
effectual  support  and  devotion.  Thus  shall  we  be 
serene,  peaceful,  hopeful,  confident,  and  in  the  end 
successful. " 


CHAPTER    XI. 

CLOSE   OF   SALEM   PASTORATE. 

As  might  be  supposed,  a  pastor  so  faithful,  a 
preacher  so  able,  a  thinker  so  profound,  was  not  shut 
up  to  Salem.  Formallj^  or  informally,  he  was  invited 
to  several  pastorates  in  New  England  and  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley,  and  to  a  professorship  in  his  Alma 
Mater,  at  Burlington. 

In  the  Autumn  of  i860  there  came  to  him  an  urgent 
appeal  to  become  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  in  Oakland,  California,  a  newly-organized 
congregation  in  the  then  small  but  growing  city. 
This  church,  under  the  leadership  of  its  two  pas- 
tors,— first,  Rev.  George  Mooar,  D.D.,  and  later  Rev. 
J.  K.  McLean,  D.D., —  has  become  the  largest  and 
one  of  the  most  prosperous  churches  of  the  Pilgrim 
faith  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  The  invitation  to  this 
young  church  received  Mr.  Dwinell's  serious  consider- 
ation, both  because  of  his  interest  in  California,  and 
because  of  some  unfavorable  conditions  of  his  own 
health,  attributable  to  the  harsh  east  winds  in  Salem. 
Personal  friends  supplemented  with  arguments  the  in- 
vitation of  the  church.  "  I  am  so  deeply  convinced,  " 
wrote  one  of  these  friends,  "  that  you  could  do  a  great 
good  by  coming  here  now,  that  I  don't  know  how  in 
any  letter  to  express  it.  There  is  not  in  prospect  a 
rapid  growth  into  a  large  church,  for  the  population  is 
not  enough,  but  it  is  a  solid,  sure  beginning,  and  your 


92  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

influence  in  state,  moral,  religious  and  educational 
matters  will  be  wide  and  is  much  needed.  *  *  * 
Here  is  a  direct,  solid  call.  May  the  Lord  direct  j-our 
way  hither  soon." 

The  time  had  not  3^et  come  when  he  felt  that  he 
could  leave  Salem.  There  were  too  many  evidences  of 
his  usefulness,  too  deep  a  satisfaction  in  his  work,  too 
strong  a  tie  binding  him  to  the  church  and  commun- 
ity, to  convince  him  that  this  call  from  the  far  West 
was  the  call  of  God.  Soon,  however,  he  was  driven 
out  of  Salem;  not  like  Roger  Williams,  against  whom 
the  General  Court  in  1635  pronounced  the  sentence  of 
exile,  and  who  has  made  the  name  of  his  city  of  ref- 
uge a  monument  to  Divine  Providence,  but  like  man)' 
of  more  recent  times,  whom  the  relentless  east  winds 
of  Massachusetts  Bay  have  driven  westward  to  some 
Providence  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

After  being  in  Salem  a  few  years,  Mr.  Dwinell  be- 
gan to  be  sensitive  to  the  climate.  In  his  Journal  he 
made  frequent  reference  to  colds  that  affected  his 
throat,  occasionally  interrupting  his  public  ministra- 
tions for  a  Sabbath  or  two.  Thus,  in  April,  1859,  we 
read  :  —  "  Evening.  Undertook  to  preach,  but  was  so 
hoarse  that  I  could  onh'  report  the  heads  of  the  argu- 
ment, after  speaking  awhile.  The  house  was  quite 
full,  there  being  settees  in  the  aisles.  It  w^s  a  great 
disappointment  to  me.  The  people  showed  much  sym- 
pathy.    Joseph    H.  Towne  sent   me    home    in  a  car- 


riage." 


' '  Oct.  9.  Exchanged  with  Dr.  Worcester.  Gave 
'Revelation  of  Christ  in  the  Son/.'  Rainy.  Had  a 
cold  and  little  freedom." 

"  Dec.  i8.  Mr.  F  was  to  preach  for  me  this  morn- 
ing, but  a  severe  eastern  storm  set  in,  and  prevented 


CLOSE  OF  SALEM  PASTORATE.  93 

the  arrangement  from  going  into  effect.  I  had  to  stir 
around,  preaching  an  extempore  sermon  from  a  plan 
previously  made.  There  were  only  about  one  hundred 
present,  and  as  I  had  a  cold  the  discourse  went  off 
rather  poorly." 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  June,  i86o,  more  serious 
symptoms  of  throat  trouble  appeared,  which  led  him  to 
lengthen  his  summer  vacation  in  Vermont  to  two 
months.  Concerning  this  summer's  rest,  he  wrote  : 
"  On  the  whole,  I  have  had  a  pleasant  time,  my  health 
being  sufficiently  good  to  enjoy  it.  God  has  been  very 
good  to  us,  infinitely  better  than  I  deserve.  " 

"  Feb.  8,  1861.  This  was  the  '  Cold  Friday  '  from 
time  immemorial.  It  came  on  with  a  fearfully  sudden 
change,  the  mercury  sinking  more  than  sixty  degrees 
in  less  than  a  day.  Yet  this  was  the  night  for  the  re- 
opening of  our  church  [after  extensive  repairs].  The 
house  was  quite  well  filled.  I  preached  the  sermon, 
defining  our  position  in  the  religious  world. 

A  few  days  later  he  refers  to  a  cold  in  his  head. 

"March  3,  a.  m.  Gave  "  Going  Back  from  Jesus.'" 
Was  much  interested  in  it,  though  somewhat  hoarse." 

"  Evening.  In  consequence  of  hoarseness  I  did  not 
think  it  best  to  attend  the  monthly  concert." 

"  On  the  Saturday  following  the  graver  symptoms 
re-appeared.  I  at  once  thought  that  this  was  a  signal 
of  God's  pleasure  that  I  should  not  continue  to  preach 
in  this  climate,  and  felt  resigned,  or  desired  to  be  wholly 
resigned  to  the  Divine  will.  I  at  once  fell  back  on  the 
sovereignty  and  goodness  of  God,  and  found  wonderful 
support  and  comfort.  I  knew  that  though  it  intimated 
a  great  and  most  painful  change  to  me  personally,  it 
was  all  right  and  for  the  best,  and  I  desired  to  leave 
myself  and   my  family  wholly   in    his   hands.     I  was 


94  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

thankful  especiallj^  that  I  had  been  permitted  to  labor 
here  till  our  Society  had  become  so  nearly  settled  again 
in  the  church.  After  worship  I  informed  Rebecca, 
and  we  both  supposed  some  great  change  now  unavoid- 
able in  our  outward  life." 

Upon  consulting  a  physician,  who  seems  temporarily 
to  have  been  consulted  in  the  absence  of  the  regular 
medical  adviser  of  the  family, Mr.  Dwinell  was  led  to  look 
less  seriously  upon  his  own  condition.  '  The  doctor  ex- 
amined my  throat,  and  said  it  was  evident  the  hemor- 
rhage was  not  in  the  lungs,  but  in  the  back  part  of  the 
nose  or  throat ;  that  it  was  not  necessary  to  seek  a 
change  of  climate,  unless  for  other  reasons  I  desired  it  ; 
that  I  might  continue  to  preach,  and  be  governed  by 
the  effects." 

Acting  upon  this  unfortunate  advice,  Mr.  Dwinell 
fulfilled  an  appointment  the  following  da^-.  "The 
house  was  warm  and  the  air  close.  Between  this  and 
my  desire  to  favor  my  voice  I  had  not  much  ease  or 
freedom  in  preaching.  But  I  was  enabled  to  get 
through  the  service,  without  feeling  any  sensible  injurj", 
God  be  praised  !     The  house  was  quite  full. ' ' 

' '  Monday  Morning.  I  have  had  no  return  of  the 
hemorrhage.  I  desire  to  be  thankful  to  God.  But  I 
never  felt  so  much  like  laying  m3-self  as  a  lamb  on  the 
altar  for  God  to  take  me  and  do  with  me  as  he  pleases 
for  his  glory  as  under  this  trial.  Oh  !  I  should  like  to 
preach  the  gospel  of  the  blessed  Jesus  ;  but  God  knows 
it  all,  and  he  sees  the  end  from  the  beginning,  and  I 
shall  not  be  laid  aside  a  moment  too  soon,  and  when 
his  time  comes,  I  wish  to  go,  saying:  "  TJiy  zvill  be 
done.'' 

"  March.  15.     Brother  John  Chapman  called  today, 
and  asked   me  if  I  had  had  any  more   trouble.      I  in- 


CLOSE  OF  SALEM  PASTORATE.  95 

formed  him  I  had,  and  that  I  was  put  in  great  perplex- 
ity about  it,  not  knowing  whether  to  ask  a  leave  of 
absence  or  send  in  ni}'  resignation,  but  fearing  I  should 
be  obliged  to  do  the  one  or  the  other.  He  said  he  was 
not  prepared  to  give  any  advice.  *  *  *  Ur.  S. 
advised  a  voyage. ' ' 

"March  i8.  Decided  today,  on  the  strength  of  the 
advice  of  Dr.  S.  on  Friday  last,  to  request  a  leave  of 
absence,  or  to  send  in  my  resignation  for  the  purpose  of 
having  a  rest,  and  perhaps  traveling." 

A  few  days  later  he  consulted  Dr.  Jackson,  a  promi- 
nent specialist  in  Boston.  This  physician  found  no 
evidence  of  lung  trouble,  but  concluded  that  the  diffi- 
culty was  in  the  upper  part  of  the  throat.  He  did  not 
think  it  needful  to  stop  preaching. 

Uncertain  what  course  to  pursue,  Mr.  Dwinell  called 
a  meeting  of  the  Societj'  Committee  and  the  Deacons, 
and  referred  the  matter  wholly  to  them.  Personally, 
he  regarded  it  as  best  to  suspend  all  preaching  for  a  few 
months,  not  on  the  ground  of  necessity  but  of  expedi- 
ency ;  as  a  vacation  with  travel  abroad  might  do  him 
more  good  than  a  much  greater  sacrifice  later. 

Relying  upon  the  advice  of  his  physicians,  the  rep- 
resentatives of  the  Church  and  Society  unanimously 
desired  him  to  continue  his  work, unless  he  should  find 
from  further  experiment  that  he  was  suffering  from 
such  a  course.     This  he  consented  to  do. 

A  month  later,  the  unwisdom  of  the  course  he  was 
taking  appeared.  A  renewal  of  the  throat  trouble  led 
him  to  consult  Dr.  Bowditch  of  Boston,  who  advised 
him  to  cease  preaching  at  once,  and  go  inlo  the  coun- 
try for  a  year. 

"  I  came  home,  wrote  my  letter  of  resignation,  and 
commended  mvself  to  God.     It  was  the  most  painful 


96  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

moment  of  my  life,  but  I  saw  no  other  proper  course. 
God  reigns  and  he  will  take  care  of  me  and  mine,  and 
the  dear  church  and  people." 

"April  14,  A.  M.  Prof.  Phelps  preached  on  'Re- 
generation as  the  work  of  the  Spirit. '  After  service  I 
gave  him  my  letter  of  resignation,  and  asked  him  to 
read  it  in  the  afternoon." 

"p.  M.  Remained  at  home  during  the  service  with 
all  our  family.     A  sad  afternoon." 

"  Evening.     I  went  to  the  Sabbath  School  concert. 

A  good  one.     I  w^anted  to  be  present  with  A and 

J andW ,  as  it  might  be  the  last  opportunity." 

"16th.  Church  meeting.  The  church  did  not  vote 
to  accept  the  resignation,  but  appointed  a  committee 
to  confer  with  me,  the  general  desire  being  that  I  should 
retain  my  pastoral  connection  with  the  church  for  a 
year,  and  then  decide  according  to  circumstances.  I 
feel  like  leaving  the  whole  matter  in  the  hands  of  the 
I.ord." 

During  the  week  following  the  ' '  Proprietors ' '  or  So- 
ciety voted  unanimously,  requesting  him  to  withdraw 
the  letter  of  resignation,  and  offering  a  3'ear's  leave  of 
absence,  with  a  salary  of  one  thousand  dollars.  In 
this  action  the  church  unanimously  concurred. 

This  prompt  and  generous  action  of  his  people  was 
the  more  noteworthy,  from  the  fact  that  it  took  place  at 
the  time  when  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war  had  made 
unstable  all  business  interests  throughout  the  countr^^ 
and  was  absorbing  the  interest  of  all  classes  of  people. 
It  was,  perhaps,  the  crowning  evidence  of  the  confi- 
dence and  the  devotion  of  those  among  whom  he  had 
lived,  and  for  whom  he  had  labored  in  the  gospel. 

On  the  twentj'-sixth  of  April,  1861,  he  left  Salem 
with  his  familj^  for  Calais,  where  he  remained  for  over 


CLOSE  OF  SALEM  PASTORATE.  97 

a  year  in  the  old  home  on  the  hill — the  home  of  his 
childhood,  the  scene  of  most  of  his  summer  vacations 
during  his  pastorate  in  Salem. 

The  3^ear's  rest  had  seemed  to  effect  a  cure. 

On  his  return  to  Salem  he  wrote  : 

"  Here  I  am  again  at  my  post.  I  have  a  long  period 
blank  in  my  Journal,  but  it  is  not  blank  in  the  good- 
ness of  God  to  me  and  mine,  but  all  filled  up  with  it. 
Every  day  of  my  year's  vacation  has  been  crowned  with 
his  mercy  in  bestowing  on  me  the  blessing  sought — a 
restoration  to  health.  And  now,  O  my  soul,  praise 
the  lyord  !  I  am  well,  and  at  my  work  again  among  my 
beloved  people.  God  give  me  wisdom  to  work  and  yet 
preserve  my  health." 

"Yesterday  I  preached;  a.  m.,  'Faith  a  Means  of 
Purification,  'p.m.,'  The  Coming  Problems. '  I  preached 
easily." 

He  continued  to  preach  and  do  pastoral  work,  greatly 
rejoicing  in  his  apparent  restoration  to  complete  health. 
He  felt  as  a  prisoner  of  war  might  have  felt  in  the 
mighty  civil  conflict  then  raging,  who  had  been  ex- 
changed, and  was  out  once  more  upon  the  tented  field 
at  the  forefront  of  the  battle.  Indeed,  his  ministry, 
subsequent  to  his  vacation,  mingled  devotion  to  the 
cross  with  enthusiasm  for  the  flag.  He  could  not,  like 
his  brethren.  Rev.  J.  H.  Thayer,  then  pastor  of  Crombie 
St.  Church  in  Salem,  and  Rev.  A.  L.  Stone  in  Boston, 
enlist  as  a  chaplain,  but  from  the  pulpit  he  uttered  "  an 
outburst  of  patriotism"  when  the  enlisting  of  soldiers  in 
Salem  was  proceeding  too  slowly.  He  .set  forth  the 
"  Equality  of  Obligations  to  Our  Country, "  in  his  own 
and  neighboring  pulpits.  He  delivered  the  powerful 
sermon  on  "Hope  for  Our  Country"  to  which  refer- 
ence has  already  been  made. 


98  ISRAEL    EDSOX    DWINELL. 

On  the  second  day  of  January,  1863,  be  writes  : 
"  Thank  God  !  "  Bells  ringing  for  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation  of  President  Lincoln.  I  bless  God  for 
it." 

For  eight  or  nine  months  be  continued  to  labor  dili- 
gently, successfully,  and  with  rare  devotion,  but  the 
winter  winds  and  storms  proved  relentless.  Before 
February  was  ended,  it  was  proven  conclusively  that 
he  must  leave  Salem. 

In  April  he  had  a  conference  with  Rev.  Dr.  Treat, 
then  one  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  with  reference  to 
taking  the  General  Agency  for  the  Board  in  the  North- 
west. In  May  he  visited  Chicago,  with  this  ofhce 
in  view,  having  been  offered  the  position.  Upon  his 
return  home,  with  the  question  still  unsettled,  he  found 
a  telegram  awaiting  him  from  the  First  Church  of 
Christ  (Congregational)  in  Sacramento,  California,  in- 
viting him  to  take  charge  of  the  church  for  one  year, 
with  a  view  to  settlement. 

This  call  was  made  upon  the  recommendation  of  his 
friend,  Rev.  Isaac  Langworthy.  After  consultation 
with  some  of  his  brethren  in  Boston,  Mr.  Dwinell  ac- 
cepted the  call,  and  at  once  made  preparation  to  leave 
Salem  for  Sacramento. 

His  letter  resigning  his  pastorate  contains  these 
words  :  ' '  This  request  is  made  at  great  sacrifice  of 
feeling,  for  I  part  from  tried  friends,  a  forbearing  and 
gracious  co-laborer,  the  venerable  senior  pastor,  and  a 
devoted,  considerate,  noble  people,  who  have  made 
every  expression  of  interest  and  esteem,  charit}^  and 
generosity  to  me  and  my  family  that  I  could  possibly 
desire,  and  far  more  I  feel  than  was  deserved.  I  shall 
not  leave,  so  far  as  I  know,  an  enemy  or  cold  friend  ; 


CLOSE  OF  SALEM  PASTORATE.  99 

and  certain  it  is  that  there  is  not  one  toward  whom  I 
have  the  slightest  ill-will  or  indifference.  All  nij-  rela- 
tions to  the  community,  also,  are  most  friendly  and 
pleasant. 

"  But  there  are  times  when  questions  of  duty  must 
be  settled  on  higher  grounds.  Personal  feelings,  the 
preference  of  affection,  human  attachments,  should  all 
be  sacrificed  for  the  prospect  of  a  longer  and  at  the 
same  time  a  more  concentrated  and  continuous  service 
for  Christ.  *  *  *  God  reigns.  I  desire  hnmbly 
and  trustfully  to  commit  m3-self  and  my  future  to  him. 
But  wherever  I  may  go,  I  shall  carry  you,  and  these 
delightful  and  blessed  years,  — now  nearly  fourteen  in 
all  —  spent  among  you,  in  my  heart  ;  and  at  the  same 
time  my  heart  will  tarry  with  you." 

In  the  reply  of  the  Society  it  was  said  :  ' '  Nothing 
but  the  state  of  his  health,  which  renders  it  necessary 
for  him  to  seek  a  milder  climate,  with  the  hope  of  pro- 
longing his  life  and  usefulness,  could  induce  us  to  con- 
sent to  a  separation  of  the  pleasant  and  profitable  rela- 
tions between  us. " 

The  church  gave  similar  expression  to  the  general 
feeling  of  regret. 

The  Council  called  to  advise  with  reference  to  the 
resignation  convened  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  May.  Rev. 
A.  B.  Rich  was  Moderator,  and  Rev.  H.  M.  Dexter  w^as 
Scribe.  In  its  official  ' '  result  "  Mr.  Dwinell  was  com- 
mended as  a  pastor,  preacher,  and  a  man  of  ver}^  rare 
qualities  ;  learned,  thorough  and  effective  in  his  pulpit 
ministrations  ;  in  his  pastoral  offices  wise,  sympathiz- 
ing, laborious  ;  in  his  relations  as  a  citizen,  influential, 
respected  and  beloved." 

It  was  further  stated:  "We  regard  his  departure 
from  among  us  as  a  loss  to  the  cause  of  Christ  not  only 


lOO  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

in  this  city,  but  also  in  this  vState,  throughout  which  his 
influence  was  beginning  to  be  felt  as  that  of  an  earnest, 
practical  and  evangelical  expounder  of  the  truth." 

The  Salem  Register  of  the  same  date  said  :  ' '  The 
community  will  lose  a  valued  citizen,  and  the  clergy  of 
this  region  a  brother  of  marked  ability,  shining  purity 
of  character,  and  eminent  Christian  virtues." 

It  was  said  by  his  people  in  the  resolutions  accepting 
his  re-signation  :  '  ■  Though  we  thus  break  the  holy  bond 
of  Pastor  and  people,  we  shall  ever  retain  for  him  the 
warmest  friendship  and  affection." 

Such  words  are  often  spoken,  but  seldom  are  such 
promises  fulfilled  so  literally  and  beautifully  as  in  this 
case.  Though  the  South  Church  has  been  exceedingly 
happy  in  its  relations  to  Dr.  Dwinell's  successors, — at 
first  Rev.  E.  S.  Atwood  D.D.,  who  labored  until  death, 
and  subsequently  Rev.  James  F.  Brodie,  the  present 
pastor, — the  church  and  community  gave  enthusiastic 
welcome  to  their  former  pastor,  whenever  he  came 
among  them  from  his  far  western  home.  Special  pains 
were  taken  by  Dr.  Atwood  and  the  people  to  make  his 
every  return  to  them  an  occasion  that  should  express 
their  abiding  affection. 

The  following  original  hymn  sung  at  a  service  in 
1874,  while  he  was  on  a  visit  to  Salem,  will  indicate 
the  genuineness  of  their  attachment  : 

Bring  voice  of  song,  and  breath  of  flowers 

To  consecrate  these  joyful  hours  ; 
Here,  where  his  early  Bethel  burns. 

The  long-gone  wanderer  returns. 

Though  Southern  skies  more  softly  glow, 

And  Southern  waters  murmur  low, 
And  winds  of  balm  blow  sweet  and  straight 

Through  the  wide  open  Golden  Gate, 


CLOSE    OF   SALEM    PASTORATE.  lOl 

Yet  nowhere  hearts  more  warmly  beat 

Their  welcome  to  his  coming  feet 
Than  here,  where  once  of  old  he  trod, 

As  messenger  and  man  of  God. 

The  years  roll  up,  to  memory's  strain 
The  vanished  past  comes  back  again, 

And  former  friendship,  tried  and  true, 
Makes  haste  its  pledges  to  renew. 

We  run  to  open  wide  the  door. 

We  bring  the  best  of  all  our  store. 
The  old  and  young  with  greetings  come, — 

O  friend  and  brother,  welcome  home. 

Evidence  yet  clearer  of  the  hold  which  Dr.  Dwinell 
had  gained  upon  the  affections  of  his  friends  in  Salem 
appears  in  the  Memorial  Service  held  in  the  South 
Church  shottl}'  after  his  death.  The  services,  largely 
attended,  were  conducted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Brodie,  who  .said 
that  upon  coming  to  the  church  as  pastor  he  had  found 
unmistakable  evidences  of  the  most  salutary  influence 
Dr.  Dwinell  had  exerted  during  his  pa.storate,  whose 
power  was  still  manifest  in  the  church  and  community. 

Rev.  N.  G.Clarke,  D.D., spoke  of  Dr.  Dwinell's  early 
life. 

Prof.  J.  Henr}-  Thayer,  who  was  pastor  of  the 
Crombie  St.  Church  in  Salem  during  the  latter  j^ears 
of  Dr.  Dwinell's  residence  in  Salem,  spoke  of  his 
impressions  of  the  latter,  saying  : —  "  He  did  not  aim 
to  be  a  pulpit  orator,  nor  to  take  his  people  by  storm. 
He  was  too  thoughtful  for  that  ;  he  cultivated  himself 
that  he  might  cultivate  his  people,  and  was  .scholarly 
for  their  sake.  He  was  conservative  and  of  pronounced 
opinions.  When  he  thought  it  best  to  preach  extem- 
poraneously, he  was  not  swerved  by  expostulation  ; 
yet  he  was  manly,  and  held  the  profound  respect  of 


I02  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

those  who  most  differed  with  him.  He  had  the  cour- 
age of  his  convictions,  as  shown  by  the  fact  that  when 
a  colored  man  was  to  preach  in  Salem,  at  a  period  when 
the  public  had  not  3'et  realized  that  there  is  no  color  dis- 
tinction in  the  power  of  Christ's  Gospel,  he  attended 
and  participated  in  the  services,  notwithstanding  the 
objections  interposed.  *  *  In  those  days  the  min- 
isters of  Salem  used  to  meet  together  to  study  the 
Bible  in  the  original,  as  an  aid  in  setting  forth  the 
truth,  and  it  was  here  that  Mr.  Dwinell  was  a  man  of 
power.  It  is  wonderful  what  success  God  has  given  to 
his  faithful  servants.  In  what  other  calling  could  such 
a  meeting  as  this  be  gathered, in  a  town  where  one's 
labors  had  ceased  more  than  twenty-five  3'ears  ago? 
Ministers  ma}^  gain  inspiration  from  the  grateful  remem- 
brance in  which  Dr.  Dwinell  is  still  held.  There  is  less 
love  of  truth,  less  love  of  God  and  of  man  on  earth  to- 
day, because  he  has  gone  from  it." 

Other  ministers  who  had  been  associated  with  Dr. 
Dwinell  in  Christian  work  in  Essex  County  added  their 
tribute  of  esteem,  and  gave  their  testimonj^  to  the  rare 
fidelit}-,  ability"  and  success  of  his  Salem  pastorate. 

Very  tender  memories  of  his  character  and  work 
were  communicated  to  Mrs.  Dwdnell  from  individual 
friends  who  had  enjoyed  his  ministry  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury before,  and  a  telegram  and  letter  were  sent  to  her 
from  the  South  Church.  In  the  latter,  communicated 
through  the  pastor  Rev.  J.  F.  Brodie,  and  the  Senior 
Deacon  Amos  H.  Johnson,  it  was  said  : 

"  The  sad  intelligence  of  the  sudden  removal  of  Dr. 
Dwinell  met  us,  as  he  would  have  desired,  just  as  we 
were  entering  the  house  of  God ,  which  he  had  made  to 
so  many  the  very  gate  of  heaven. 

"It  was  our  Children's   Day  service.     The  pulpit 


CLOSE  OF  SALEM  PASTORATE.         105 

from  which  his  voice  was  heard  for  so  many  years  in 
Christian  worship  and  testimonj'  was  covered  with 
flowers.  It  w^as  to  be  a  day  of  gladness.  The  sorrow- 
ful message  brought  a  strain  of  sadness  into  the  serv- 
ice. But  the  thought  of  him,  with  his  work  finished 
and  his  entrance  effected  upon  the  fullness  of  joy  and 
blessedness  above,  was  quite  in  harmony  with  the  occa- 
sion, lending  it  a  solemn  depth  and  tenderness.  It  was 
much  as  if  his  form  had  appeared  in  our  midst,  sur- 
rounded by  all  its  sacred  and  inspiring  memories,  and 
passing  on  had  entered  into  the  heavenly  rest,  in  the 
hope  of  W'hich  he  lived  and  worked.  The  very  walls 
seemed  to  re-echo  the  voice  with  which  he  won  the 
hearts  of  his  people.  The  remembrance  of  his  earnest, 
kindly  interest  in  each  member  of  his  flock  came  back 
to  intensify  his  former  instruction  and  pleading.  *  * 
The  South  Church  mourns  with  you  in  the  sudden  and 
heavy  sorrow.  To  many  of  us  it  comes  as  a  direct,  per- 
sonal bereavement.  To  us  all  it  is  the  loss  of  one 
whose  name  is  graven  on  the  South  Church  walls, 
whose  faithful  ministrj'  continues  a  rich  heritage  and 
strong  inspiration  in  the  church's  life.  *  *  *  His 
life  and  work,  his  wishes  for  this  church  and  people, 
will  be  devoutly  and  diligently  cherished." 

"  It  was  his  life  here,"  wrote  Mr.  George  R.  Chap- 
man, "  to  be  doing  his  Lord's  will,  and  the  scene  only 
of  his  work  has  changed.  The  work  will  be  nothing 
new  to  him.  *  *  The  recognition  of  the  great  part 
of  his  old  Salem  church — how  dear  it  must  be  to  them 
and  to  him  to  again  serve  together  their  common  Mas- 
ter and  Lord  !" 

"  None  have  better  reason  than  we,"  wrote  another 
of  his  warm  personal  friends  in  the  Salem  church,  Mr. 
Joseph  Hardy  Towne,  "to  know  Dr.  Dwinell's  worth,. 


I04  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

and  the  value  of  his  acquaintance  and  friendship,  and 
we  mourn  his  loss  as  that  of  a  long-tried  and  very  dear 
friend— none  nearer  or  dearer  outside  of  our  family  cir- 
cle. To  be  in  his  company  was  always  a  delight.  *  * 
I  am  gratified,  and  no  doubt  you  will  be,  to  find  that 
the  memory  of  Dr.  Dwinell  is  held  in  such  loving  re- 
membrance by  a  people  to  whom  he  ministered  so  many 
years  ago,  and  that  his  faithful  pastorate  is  still  fresh 
in  the  minds  of  so  many  of  the  people.  We  can  hope, 
as  Mr.  Brodie  expressed  it  in  his  praj^er,  that  such 
memories  ma)^  serve  as  an  inspiration  to  us  in  the  fut- 
ure." 

Another  recalls  his  ministrations  to  the  sorrowful : 
"When  I  remember  what  sweet  and  holy  words  of 
comfort  he  spoke  to  me  in  hours  of  affliction,  and  to 
many  another  mourner,  I  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to 
help  bear  j^our  burden  of  sorrow.  I  can  only  saj^  that 
we  loved  him,  and  that  we  love  you,  and  we  weep 
with  you. ' ' 

These  memories  of  Dr.  Dwinell's  pastorate,  called 
out  b}"  his  death  twenty-seven  j^ears  after  that  pastor- 
ate had  closed,  are  introduced  at  this  place  as  giving 
emphasis  to  the  deep  impression  he  made  upon  the  peo- 
ple during  the  fourteen  years  he  lived  and  labored  in 
Salem. 

Thej^  were  years  given  to  the  stud}-  of  the  Word  of 
God,  and  to  communion  with  the  Spirit  of  God.  They 
were  years  of  intellectual  and  spiritual  growth.  But 
much  as  he  enjoj'cd  stud}*,  he  enjoyed  work  more  ;  or 
perhaps  it  were  better  to  say,  study  was  ever  a  part  of 
his  work — it  was  never  apart  from  his  work.  All  his 
intellectual  pursuits  kept  ever  the  great  aim  of  his  life 
in  view  ;  that  aim  was  service.  Hence  he  added  to 
■close  stud}^  and  the  careful  writing  of  discourses,  free 


CLOSK    OF   SALEM    PASTORATE.  105 

intercourse  with  the  people.  Take,  for  example,  the 
.summary  for  1856  recorded  in  his  Journal,  and  it  ap- 
pears that  his  calls  averaged  more  than  two  a  day  for 
a  year  in  which  he  had  preached  seventy  times. 

"  During  the  year  I  have  made  678  calls,  of  which 
320  were  pastoral  vi.sits  to  families,  and  278  to  individ- 
uals who  were  sick  or  anxious,  etc.,  and  in  80  cases 
the  persons  on  whom  I  called  were  not  at  home." 

' '  A  public  man's  success  ? ' '  asks  Robertson.  ' '  That 
which  can  be  measured  by  feast  days  and  the  number 
of  journals  which  espouse  his  cause  ?  Deeper,  deeper 
far  must  he  work  who  works  for  Eternity.  In  the  eye 
of  that,  nothing  stands  but  gold — real  work — all  else 
perishes." 

Dr.  Dwinell  rests  from  his  labors,  but  his  work  in 
Salem  abides. 


Congregational  Chikch,  Sackamknto,  Cala. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

NEW   SCENES. 

Sacramento,  in  1863,  was  a  cit}^  similar  to  Salem  in 
amount  of  population,  but  in  all  other  respects  few 
places  could  be  more  dissimilar.  Each  contained  not 
far  from  twenty  thousand  inhabitants ;  but  in  Salem 
the  mass  was  fused,  while  in  Sacramento  the  elements 
were  difficult  if  not  incapable  of  fusion.  The  Chinese 
with  their  peculiar  customs,  their  pagan  rites,  their 
harsh  speech  and  meagre  fare,  were  described  by  Dr. 
Dwinell  as  ' '  living  in  sight  of  the  rest  of  the  popula- 
tion, but  yet  separated  from  them  by  a  deep  gulf. " 
"  The  Jew, "  he  adds,  "  is  here,  and  is  true  to  his  tra- 
ditional habits  and  character."  Representatives  of 
nearly  all  nations  were  there,  but  few  of  them  looked 
upon  Sacramento  or  even  California  as  their  perma- 
nent home.  "Society,"  wrote  Ur.  Dwinell,  "in  the 
strict  sense  of  the  term,  is  hardly  formed  in  the  State. 
The  people  are  held  together  under  social  forms  and 
usages,  more  by  external  bands  than  by  internal. 
They  know  little  about  one  another  generally,  even 
their  neighbors,  and  take  little  interest  in  them,  pro- 
vided they  are  not  troubled  by  them.  *  *  *  There 
is  indifference  to  public  sentiment,  because  public  sen- 
timent does  not  exist.  *  *  *  Yet,  in  any  case  of 
sickness  or  suffering,  any  call  of  humanity,  no  persons 
have  warmer  hearts  or  more  responsive  hands  than 
these   apparently    cool    and    indifferent    Californians. 


I08  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

The  appearance  of  indifference  belongs  to  the  structure 
and  history  of  society,  not  to  the  nature  of  the  people, 
as  I  have  occasion  to  know  very  well." 

Into  such  a  community,  the  beginnings  of  which 
were  but  fourteen  j^ears  before  his  arrival,  Dr.  Dwinell 
came  from  one  of  the  most  staid  cities  of  New  England. 

He  was  forty-two  years  of  age,  cultured,  conserva- 
tive, with  lofty  ideals,  and  frail  in  health.  Could  he 
take  root  in  such  California  soil  as  we  find  analyzed  by 
him  above  ?  Others,  his  companions  in  Christian  ser- 
vice, had  for  the  most  part  come  to  California  direct 
from  their  respective  seminaries,  and  knew  only  the 
unique  conditions  and  flexible  methods  of  Christian 
work  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  The}'  had  "grown  up 
with  the  country  "  :  but  this  New  England  pastor 
quickly  found  his  place  among  them,  and  received 
from  them  a  welcome  so  cordial  that  he  soon  felt  that 
he  had  a  part  in  the  work  so  grandly-  begun  by  the 
Christian  pioneers  of  California. 

He  w^as  not  long  finding  out  that  he  had  entered 
upon  a  field  of  vast  importance.  Those  to  w'hom  he 
ministered  recognized  in  their  new  pastor  a  man  fitted 
in  mind  and  heart  to  be  their  spiritual  guide.  The 
communit}^  felt  the  uplift  of  his  public  spirit,  and  not 
only  the  denominational  life,  but  also  the  interdenom- 
inational activity  of  the  whole  state  was  quickened  by 
his  wise  counsels  and  generous  sympathies.  He  had 
made  no  mistake  in  coming  to  the  Pacific  Coast.  He 
took  root  in  California  soil, and  for  twenty-seven  years, 
like  the  Sequoia  gigantea,  stood  erect,  stalwart,  benef- 
icent, thoroughly  Californian. 

The  First  Church  of  Christ  ( Congregational )  was 
the  second  of  that  denomination  to  be  organized  in  Cal- 
ifornia.    In  the  year  1849  Rev.  Joseph  A.  Benton,  ar- 


NEW   SCENES.  109 

riving  in  the  State,  proceeded  to  Sacramento,  then  a 
a  village  of  tents,  preached  to  congregations  gathered 
under  a  tree,  and  aided  by  some  brethren  organized  a 
church.  This  church,  in  1863,  had  increased  in  mem- 
bership to  about  eighty,  owned  a  substantial  and  com- 
modious brick  house  of  worship,  and  held  a  command- 
ing and  influential  position  in  the  capital  city. 

Dr.  Dwinell,  upon  assuming  the  pastorate,  at  once  at- 
tracted the  attention  and  commanded  the  respect  of  all 
in  the  community.  To  speak  particularly^  of  his  pas- 
toral work  in  Sacramento  wc-uld  be  to  repeat  much  that 
has  been  said  of  his  work  in  Salem .  The  same  thorough- 
ness of  preparation  for  the  pulpit,  the  same  active  sym- 
pathy with  the  psople,  the  same  consecration  of  strength 
and  time  to  the  work,  marked  this  pastorate  as  that  in 
Massachusetts. 

His  own  words  to  his  people  after  ten  j-ears  of  ser- 
vice reveal  his  spirit  and  methods,  and  make  us  ac- 
quainted with  partial  results. 

"  In  strictly  ministerial  work  among  ui}-  own  people 
I  have  found  my  highest  pleasure,  and  to  this  I  have 
given  my  best  thoughts  and  energy  and  love.  I  have 
regarded  preaching  as  having  the  first  claims,  after  per- 
sonal fidelit}'  to  Christ,  and  attention  to  the  sick  and  sor- 
rowing, and  the  burial  of  the  dead.  I  have  preached 
nearly  nine  hundred  times  on  the  Sabbath,  in  one  form 
or  another,  mostly  written  sermons — sometimes  extem- 
poraneously, and  sometimes  in  familiar  addresses  on 
missionary  subjects  or  to  the  children.  I  have  tried  to 
preach  Christ  and  to  preach  duty,  to  preach  the  Bible, 
and  to  bring  you  to  the  Bible.  I  have  aimed  to  show 
you  to  yourselves,  and  to  show  Christianity  to  you,  so 
that  you  will  see  what  fits  your  soul,  all  its  chambers 
and  recesses,  as  a  key  the  wards  of  a  combination  lock, 


no  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

and  so  welcome  it.  And  then  I  have  carried  the  Gos- 
pel out  in  its  practical  applications  in  your  homes,  bus- 
iness, pleasures,  personal  habits,  and  many  of  the  great 
social  problems  of  the  day.  *  *  *  In  all  my  preach- 
ing I  have  never  forgotten  my  respect  for  the  Master, 
nor  my  respect  for  you,  nor  for  myself,  and  come  down 
from  a  high  moral  purpose  to  the  shifts  and  tricks  nec- 
essary for  amusing  and  making  you  laugh.  If  I  cannot 
respect  a  people  enough  to  believe  that  they  wish  me 
to  address  them  on  a  basis  of  manhood,  and  for  their 
good  and  elevation,  rather  than  come  down  and  tickle 
them  as  in  a  show,  I  have  no  call  to  preach  to  them. 
You  will  bear  me  witness  that  I  have  shown  you  honor 
in  this  respect.  We  have  gone  up  into  the  house  of 
God  together,  and  not  into  a  circus  or  theater.      *     * 

"  It  has  been  an  incidental  part  of  my  work,  and  a 
strong  desire,  to  develop  the  charities  of  the  church  and 
congregation.  The  contributions  have  been  systema- 
tized, the  missionary  and  Sabbath  School  concerts  estab- 
lished, and  appeals  are  regularly  made  for  contributions 
to  benevolent  objects — from  principle,  from  love  to 
brother  man — with  moderate  response.  For  giving  to 
objects  making  a  direct  appeal  to  humanity  or  affec- 
tion, objects  at  hand,  I  have  found  this  people  most 
hearty  and  generous  ;  but  for  giving  to  causes  far  off, 
of  which  they  have  no  personal  knowledge,  slow  and 
cautious." 

After  reviewing  some  of  the  leading  events  of  the 
decade — the  first  half  of  his  pastorate — including  the  ac- 
cession of  one  hundred  and  fortj'-five  persons  to  the 
church,  of  whom  seventy-three  were  received  upon  con- 
fession of  faith,  he  continues  :  "  I  am  aware  that  a 
more  brilliant  showing  of  outward  results  might  have 
been  made  if  ray  method  of  leading  had  been  different. 


NEW   SCENES.  1 1 1 

if  it  had  been  more  positive  and  commanding-,  if  I  had 
put  in  my  personal  will  as  the  organizing  principle  of 
the  Church  and  Society.  But  I  have  sought  to  act  on 
an  entirely  different  principle  ;  to  help  you  to  do  the 
governing,  to  bring  you  up  to  spiritual  enterprises  and 
measures  by  your  own  choice,  and  to  reach  results  by 
a  process  that  at  the  same  time  enlarges  and  ripens 
character  and  makes  better  men  and  women.  We  are 
on  a  journey  to  God,  not  to  the  enlargement  of  ecclesi- 
astical ramparts  and  the  increase  of  church  furniture, 
and  I  prefer  a  method  that  best  developes  character 
and  spiritual  strength,  though  to  gain  it  a  pastor  may 
seem  to  lose  himself  among  his  people." 

In  1875  Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond  held  a  series  of  union 
meetings  in  Sacramento,  in  which  Dr.  Dwinell  and  the 
other  pastors  co-operated  most  heartily,  and  from  which 
most  beneficent  results  followed.  In  Feb.,  1888,  four 
years  after  Dr.  Dwinell  had  removed  to  Oakland,  Mr. 
Hammond  revisited  Sacramento  on  the  same  Evange- 
listic mission.  As  showing  the  heart  of  the  man  who 
went  in  and  out  among  that  people  for  twenty  years, 
the  following  letter  is  given  a  place  in  this  memorial : 

"  Pacific  Theological  Seminary, 
"Oakland,  Feb.  13,  1888. 
"Rev.  E.  p.  Hammond.  Dear  Brother:  —  You 
can  hardly  imagine  the  pleasure  it  gives  me  to  know 
that  you  are  again  in  Sacramento.  I  remember  what 
blessing  attended  your  labors  w^hen  there  before,  and 
my  heart  still  yearns  over  that  people.  I  put  twenty 
years — the  best  of  my  life,  my  thought  and  strength 
and  activity  —  into  that  field,  and  I  cannot  but  feel 
deeply,  acutely  for  it.  There  are  scores  and  hundreds 
of  souls  there  that  I  have  agonized  over  to  help  them 


112  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

into  the  Kingdom,  and  they  are  still  outside.  For 
some  of  them  I  have  prayed  daily  for  more  than  twenty 
years,  and  my  prayers  are  still  unanswered.  No  won- 
der my  heart  leaps  into  my  mouth  when  I  think  of  you 
there,  and  of  the  churches  and  pastors  uniting,  and 
once  more  throwing  the  warm,  broad  appeals  of  the 
Gospel  through  that  entire  community.  *  *  *  i 
am  constantly  praying  for  you  and  your  co-laborers, 
and  the  work.  May  the  Lord  bless  you  and  the  dear 
old  church,  and  all  the  churches  ;  and  may  the  whole 
cit3',  baptized  with  fire,  and  flood,  and  politics,  now  be 
baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost. 

"  Fraternally  yours, 

"  I.  E.  DwiNELL." 

In  his  review  of  his  pastorate  on  the  last  Sunday  be- 
fore his  ministry  ended,  he  declares  :  —  "I  have  loved 
my  work.  I  have  loved  the  place.  I  have  loved 
you.  I  have  had  a  people  worthy  of  being  loved,  and 
that  one  could  not  help  but  love.  I  have  watched  your 
personal  histories,  and  kept  my  thoughts  on  your  spir- 
itual heart- beats,  as  a  mother  watches  the  unfolding  of 
the  character  of  her  child,  that  she  may  know  how  to 
care  for  it  and  mold  it.  *  *  *  And  I  have  been 
aware  of  the  return  of  this  love.  I  have  somehow  felt 
your  personal  regard  for  me,  as  a  pure  atmosphere 
which  one  has  no  need  to  hear  or  perceive  blowing  to 
feel  its  stimulating  and  tonic  effects.  I  have  had  your 
confidence.  I  have  shared  your  generosity.  When 
sick,  I  have  been  kindly  relieved  of  duty.  You  have 
patiently  borne  the  inconvenience  and  awaited  my  re- 
covery, I  have  never  asked  a  favor  or  indulgence  you 
have  not  cheerfully  granted.  I  do  not  believe  a  pas- 
tor ever  had  a  more  generous-minded  people  toward 
himself  personally,  than  you  have  been  to  me." 


NEW   SCENES.  II3 

Such  was  this  Sacramento  pastorate  in  its  spirit  and 
mutual  relations  between  pastor  and  people.  Through 
it  "  souls  were  regenerated,  character  beautified,  homes 
blessed,  society  leavened."  Of  its  details  he  spoke 
to  his  congregation  at  the  farewell  services  :  "  I  have 
met  you  in  the  sanctuar\'  nearly  seventeen  hundred 
times  on  the  Sabbath,  and  tried  to  take  you  awa}-  from 
absorption  in  mere  secular  interests,  into  the  pres- 
ence of  God.  *  *  *  I  have  met  you  in  private, 
from  house  to  house,  and  in  the  happenings  of  the 
week,  and  spoken  with  3-ou  on  the  same  supreme  sub- 
ject, heart  touching  heart.  With  two  hundred  and 
eighty-three  of  3-our  number — one  hundred  and  ten 
adults  and  one  hundred  and  seventy-three  children — I 
have  gone  with  3'ou  upon  the  mount  of  consecration, 
and  set  them  apart  in  baptism,  on  their  own  solemn 
faith  or  that  of  their  parents,  to  the  service  of  the 
Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost.  I  have  joined  with  you 
in  the  sublime  act  when  three  hundred  and  sixty-one 
of  you  united  wdth  the  church,  covenanting  with  God 
and  wnth  his  people  for  the  service  of  Christ.  Of  these 
two  hundred  and  fifty-one  still  remain  on  the  church 
roll,  and  these,  wnth  the  fifteen  still  remaining  of  the 
eighty-three  on  the  roll  when  I  came  here,  make  two 
hundred  and  sixty-six  in  all  now  on  our  list ;  while  only 
one  of  the  original  members  of  the  church  in  1849,  A. 
C.  Sweetser,  remains. 

"  I  have  been  with  3^ou  also  on  memorable  occasions 
of  domestic  joy.  If  I  .should  call  together  the  persons 
I  have  married  during  these  twenty  years,  that  I  might 
preach  to  them  on  the  duties  of  married  life,  and  they 
should  all  come,  there  would  be  enough  white- veiled 
brides  and  kid-gloved  grooms  to  fill  this  church,  and 
have  an  overflow  meeting  that  would  nearly  fill  the 


114  ISRAEL   EDSOX    DWIXELL. 

lecture-room,  for  there  would  be  one  thousand  and  sixtj- 
persons  present. 

' '  I  have  gone  to  3^ou  in  times  of  trouble  also,  when  sor- 
row has  invaded  your  homes,  and  3^ou  felt  you  needed  all 
the  kindh^  sympathy  and  help  you  could  get,  and  were 
glad  to  be  borne  up  into  the  presence  of  God  for  com- 
fort. If  all  sounds  should  now  be  hushed,  and  the 
grave  should  give  up  its  dead,  at  whose  barial  I  have 
officiated,  and  you  should  make  room  for  them,  and  re- 
tire and  look  on  from  afar,  and  see  them  file  silently  in 
*  *  *  and  fill  this  line  of  pews  and  that,  every  seat 
in  the  body  of  this  church  would  be  occupied  with  the 
six  hundred  and  fifty-eight  dear  ones  who  have  been 
taken  from  you,  over  whom  we  have  bowed  tenderh- 
and  sadly  together  in  the  pitying  presence  of  the  Sa- 
vior, on  the  brink  of  the  other  world  ourselves,  before 
whose  fluttering  curtains  we  stood." 

A  beautiful  tribute  to  this  pastorate  was  offered  by 
the  great  congregation  assembled  to  listen  to  the  fare- 
well sermon.  After  its  delivery  Rev.  H.  H.  Rice,  pas- 
tor of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  spoke  feelingh^  of  the 
work  of  the  retiring  pastor,  introducing  the  resolutions 
that  follow.  Rev.  Mr.  McKelvie,  pastor  of  the  Seventh 
St.  M.  E.  Church,  spoke  on  the  subject  of  the  resolu- 
tions, saying  that  Dr.  Dwinell  had  not  been  pastor 
simply  of  the  Congregational  Church,  but  belonged  to 
the  whole  people.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  remarks 
the  resolutions  were  adopted  by  a  rising  vote  of  the  en- 
tire audience  : 

"  IV/iereas,  it  has  seemed  best  to  our  friend  and 
brother.  Rev.  Israel  E.  Dwinell,  D.D.,  to  close  his  labors 
as  pastor  in  Sacramento,  after  a  service  of  twent3' 
years  ;  therefore  be  it 

• '  Resolved,  hy  the  Christian  people  of  this  commu- 
nity, as  represented  in  this  union  meeting. 


NKW   SCENES.  115 

' '  First — That  the  work  of  Dr.  Dwinell  has  been  a  great 
blessing,  not  only  to  the  church  which  he  has  served 
with  such  unremitting  faithfulness,  but  also  to  the  whole 
cit}'  and  the  State  of  California. 

"  Second — That  we  shall  cherish  with  gratitvide  the 
memory  of  his  genial  character,  his  Christian  example, 
his  intellectual  power,  his  public  counsels,  and  in  gen- 
eral his  wide-spread  influence  for  good  as  a  fellow  cit- 
izen and  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 

' '  Third — That  we  part  from  him  with  the  deepest 
sorrow  and  regret,  which  we  believe  to  be  shared  alike 
by  the  people  of  all  churches,  all  departments  of  busi- 
ness, and  all  stations  in  life. 

"  Fourth — That  we  tender  to  him  and  his  beloved 
wife  our  heartfelt  prayers  for  the  richest  blessings  to 
attend  them,  wherever  God  in  his  providence  may  or- 
der their  lot,  and  we  send  beforehand  our  congratula- 
tions to  the  community  where  the)'  may  select  their 
home. 

"  Fifth — That  this  occasion  solemnly  calls  upon  us, 
without  respect  to  denominational  lines,  to  rededicate 
ourselves  to  the  service  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  a 
holy  life,  for  the  upbuilding  of  his  heavenly  kingdom. ' ' 

In  the  earlier  years  of  this  pastorate  there  were  few 
gray  heads  in  the  congregation .  The  young  and  mid- 
dle aged  filled  the  pews,  as  they  also  filled  the  import- 
ant business  positions  in  the  city.  It  was  an  active, 
restless  community — some  surging  like  the  sea,  coming 
and  going  and  returning  again,  now  to  San  Francisco, 
now  to  a  newly  discovered  mine,  now  to  a  daring  bus- 
iness venture  ;  others  passing  through  the  city  as  if 
borne  on  the  current  of  the  river,  lingering  for  a  little 
like  a  fruitful  branch  held  back  by  the  eddy,  to  sweep 
onward  and  beyond  sight  at  length  toward  bay  and 
ocean. 


Il6  ISRAEL    EIXSON    DWINEIX. 

He  who  would  reach  and  bless  this  moving  throng 
must  not  be  unmindful  of  "the  stranger  within  the 
gate."  Dr.  Dwinell  was  quick  to  discover  and  "not 
forgetful  to  entertain  strangers. "  He  realized  that  his 
hearer  of  toda}-  might  be  amid  other  scenes  to-morrow 
— in  mine  or  on  ranch,  or  speeding  along  across  an 
ocean  or  a  continent,  for  a  time  beyond  the  range  of 
Christian  ordinances. 

Many  of  these  transient  members  of  his  congrega- 
tion could  testify  to  the  kindly,  helpful  interest  of  this 
pastor  in  their  spiritual  and  material  prosperity. 

One  of  the  number  who,  since  that  time,  has  made  a 
distinguished  record  for  himself  by  investigating  and 
revealing  the  condition  of  Russian  exiles  in  Siberia, 
spent  several  months  in  Sacramento  in  the  5'ear  1865. 
He  was  then,  in  earh-  manhood,  en  route  to  Siberia, 
with  a  party  about  to  survey  a  route  for  an  overland 
telegraph  northward  from  San  Francisco,  along  the 
Pacific  Coast,  thence  via  Behring  Strait  across  Siberia. 
In  Dr.  Dwinell,  George  Kennan  found  a  congenial 
friend,  whose  Christian  fellowship  he  sought  ;  and 
desiring  publicly  to  confess  his  Christian  faith,  before 
proceeding  on  his  long  and  perilous  journey,  he  was 
received  into  the  membership  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Sacramento  by  the  pastor. 

Two  3^ears  later,  while  on  board  the  barque  Onward, 
at  sea  off  Ghijiga  Gulf,  he  w^rote  to  Dr.  Dwinell,  and 
brief  extracts  will  be  sufficient  to  show  his  apprecia- 
tion of  the  interest  shown  in  him  by  the  pastor  : 

"  It  ma}^  be  by  this  time  that  3-0U  have  nearly,  if 
not  quite,  forgotten  the  young  man  who  united  with 
your  church  in  the  spring  of  1S65,  just  previous  to  his 
departure  wdth  the  first  of  the  W.  U.  Telegraph  Com- 
pany's  exploring    parties    for   Northeastern   Siberia. 


NEW    SCENKS.  II7 

Our  short  acquaintance  may  not  have  made  upon  your 
mind  so  deep  an  impression  as  j^our  kindness  and  cor- 
dial sympathy  did  upon  mine,  but  still  I  hope  that  the 
peculiar  circumstances  under  which  I  became  known 
to  3'ou  and  eventualh*  united  with  j-our  church  have 
not  suffered  you  to  entirely  forget  me. 

"  I  intended  long  before  this  to  have  written  you, 
but  my  life  in  Siberia  has  been  spent  in  almost  constant 
travel  on  dog  sledges  over  the  vast  steppes  which  lie 
in  the  interior,  and  l:as  afforded  me  few  opportunities 
and  fewer  facilities  for  communication  with  friends,  or 
indeed  with  any  portion  of  the  civilized  world. 

"I  would  not  have  3'ou  infer,  however,  from  my 
long  silence  that  I  have  forgotten  3'ou,  or  that  I  cease 
to  remember  with  emotions  of  liveliest  gratitude  the 
help,  sympathy  and  friendship  which  cheered  and  en- 
couraged me  in  the  right  path,  when  I  was  "  a  stranger 
in  a  strange  land."  Many  times  while  sitting  by  the 
lonely  camp-fire,  watching  out  the  long  hours  of  an 
Arctic  night  on  some  desolate  steppe,  I  have  thought 
of  the  friends  in  Sacramento,  and  cherished  the  hope 
that  I  might  in  God's  time  see  them  again. 

******** 

"  I  cannot  express  to  you,  my  dear  pastor,  how  hard 
it  is  to  live  as  a  Christian  ought  to  live  in  this  country 
where  there  are  neither  churches,  Sabbath  Schools, 
Christian  society,  nor  any  helps  to  a  Christian  life, 
which  the  poorest  in  America  enjoys.  *  *  *  We 
may  never  meet  again  on  earth,  but  I  shall  alwaj'S  re- 
member you  with  gratitude,  and  by  God's  help  and 
mercy  I  hope  to  meet  j'ou  sometime  in  another  world. ' ' 

In  reph'  to  a  letter  from  Dr.  Dwinell,  Mr.  Kennan, 
a  year  later  from  his  home  in  Ohio,  refers  to  "  the  cor- 
diality and  hearty  kindness  "  of  his  Sacramento  friends. 


Il8  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

Testimony  like  this  is  not  only  encouraging  to  a 
faithful  pastor,  but  is  a  word  in  season  to  any  Chris- 
tian worker  who  may  read  these  pages,  and  whose 
bread  cast  upon  the  waters  he  has  not  yet  found. 
There  are  men  scattered  up  and  down  the  earth  to 
whom  a  word  in  season  has  been  spoken,  which  led  to 
their  conversion,  or  fortified  their  faith,  or  comforted 
them  in  their  sorrows.  From  them  may  come  no 
written  testimony,  yet  they  hold  in  grateful  memory 
the  pastor,  teacher,  friend,  whose  life  touched  theirs 
and  blessed  it.  Too  often  the  testimony,  if  given,  is 
delayed  till  the  ear  of  hiim  who  blessed  is  deaf,  and  the 
heart  that  throbbed  with  Christian  sympathy  has  ceased 
to  beat. 

Many  such  expressions  of  appreciation  came  to  Dr. 
Dwinell  through  all  the  years  of  his  ministry,  and  when 
the  tidings  of  his  death  reached  distant  and  former  par- 
ishioners their  grateful  words  of  appreciation  came  to 
the  stricken  home  as  the  doves  come  flying  to  the 
place  where  they  have  been  fed,  when  the  bell  in  the 
tower  of  St.  Mark  tolls  two. 

"My  dear  former  Pastor,  how  I  loved  him.  His 
consistent  life,  lovel}'  spirit,  S3'nipathizing  heart,  we 
shall  miss  so  much. ' ' 

' '  Though  he  was  so  far  away,  I  still  looked  upon 
him  as  my  dear  pastor. " 

"  He  was  connected  with  so  many  events  in  our 
lives,  sad  and  jo\-ous,  and  to  each  gave  such  a  sacred- 
ness,  that  we  feel  that  a  beautiful  presence  has  passed 
from  our  lives.'' 

' '  I  shall  never  forget  his  kindness  and  sympathy — 
how  like  a  dear,  loving  brother  he  was  to  me." 

' '  We  shall  never  forget  his  lessons  of  love  and  sym- 
pathy, which   we  have  heard  him   express    so  many 


NKW    SCENES.  II9 

times.     Surely  a  great  and  good  man  has  fallen,  but 
his  works  do  follow  him.  " 

' '  I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  I  have  missed  him  all 
these  years  of  his  absence.  His  counsel  still  remains 
with  me,  and  always  will  as  long  as  I  live." 

"  We  loved  him —  learned  on  his  sweet  life  to  lean, 
Yet  dare  not  mourn  that  such  a  life  should  cease 
When  the  Great  Reaper  takes  His  ripened  grain." 

"  C.  has  always  loved  and  revered  Dr.  Dwinell  as 
his  ideal  of  perfect  manhood,  of  greatness,  of  excel- 
lence." 

"  He  walked  very  near  to  his  dear  Savior." 
"  We   all    know    how   sweetly    and    reverentl}'    he 
always  listened  to  know  what  the  Lord  would  have 
him  do.     I  don't  believe  he  ever  willfully  disobeyed 
God." 


CHAPTKR  XIII. 

A   CHRISTIAN    CITIZEN. 

California's  moral  crust  is  of  unequal  thickness. 
Seismic  disturbances  in  public  sentiment  or  in  legisla- 
tion are  not  uncommon.  The  builders  of  the  com- 
monwealth have  not  all  realized  the  insecurit}^  of  a 
State  from  whose  structure  have  been  omitted  the  eter- 
nal principles  of  right. 

Some  sessions  of  the  Legislature  at  Sacramento  have 
been  a  seismograph  registering  the  shocks  and  undu- 
latory  motions  that  threatened  the  honor  of  the  State, 
and  caused  to  lay  prostrate  the  polished  stones  of 
Christian  principle. 

At  such  times  it  was  of  inestimable  value  to  the 
State  to  have  in  the  leading  pulpit  of  the  Capital  city 
men  like  Dr.  Dwinell,  and  his  predecessor  Dr.  Benton, 
who  as  watchmen  upon  the  towers  of  Zion  were  quick 
to  feel  the  shock,  faithful  to  warn  legislators  and  their 
constituents,  and  wise  to  plan  for  rebuilding  the  shaken 
walls  of  civic  virtue. 

When  in  1868  an  effort  was  made  in  the  Legislature 
to  repeal  the  Sabbath  laws  of  the  State,  Dr.  Dwinell, 
from  his  pulpit  in  Sacramento,  and  through  the  secular 
and  religious  press  showed  that  society,  as  well  as  indi- 
vidual Christians,  has  an  interest  in  the  continuance 
of  Sunday  laws.  "  It  is  clear,"'  he  says,  "  if  the  State 
adopts  a  policy  which  tends  to  break  up  the  Christian 
Sabbath  it  breaks  up  the  casket  which  holds  its  jewel. " 

9 


122  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

At  another  time  he  wrote  in  The  Pacific :  ' '  We  must 
be  American  or  nothing.  And  now  is  the  time  to 
speak  out.  Let  every  county,  town  and  precinct  speak 
out.  Let  every  Christian  citizen  and  patriot  speak 
out.  Let  one  overwhelming  voice  from  all  parts  of  the 
State  sa}"  to  the  Legislature,  now  in  session  :  '  Make 
no  war  upon  the  American  Sabbath.  Let  this  vital, 
fundamental,  time-honored,  inherited,  American  insti- 
tution stand.  Do  not  attempt  its  overthrow,  to  erect 
in  its  place  an  illusive,  destructive,  cosmopolitan  spec- 
tre.' " 

The  effort  made  in  the  Legislature  against  the  Sab- 
bath failed  at  that  time,  but  a  few  years  later  was  re- 
newed and  succeeded. 

In  the  summer  of  1882,  and  again  during  the  fol- 
lowing winter  and  spring,  when  the  attack  upon  the 
American  Sabbath  was  renewed  in  the  Legislature, 
Dr.  Dwinell  preached  and  wrote  in  defense  of  the  day. 
Two  sermons  of  this  period  are  of  special  interest  and 
power.  Both  were  delivered  in  Sacramento;  the  first 
while  the  repeal  of  the  Sunday  law  was  still  pending 
in  the  Legislature.  Its  title  was  "  The  Repeal  of  the 
Law  a  blow  at  Public  Morals. "  The  second  sermon, 
delivered  after  the  repeal  had  been  accomplished,  had 
for  its  title,  "California  Pulling  Down  the  Sabbath 
Sign.     What  shall  we  do  about  it  ?  " 

Both  of  these  sermons  were  published  in  TJie  Pacific. 
The  former  was  published  also  in  the  Sacramento  Bee. 

The  daily  press  of  Sacramento  often  requested  for 
publication  those  sermons  of  Dr.  Dwinell's  which 
treated  of  subjects  especially  in  the  mind  of  the  public 
at  the  time.  This  gave  the  preacher  an  audience  that 
reached  out  into  the  whole  city,  into  many  parts  of 
the  State,  and  into  the  halls  of  legislation. 


A    CHRISTIiVN    CITIZEN.  1 23 

Several  of  these  discourses  were  delivered  in  1878, 
when  the  oratory  of  the  "  Sand-lot  "  in  San  Francisco 
was  arousing  the  spirit  of  discontent  among  some 
classes  of  citizens.  The  topics  were: — "Incipient 
Communism — a  Portent  of  the  Times."  "Commun- 
ism Ripe — Fulfillment  of  the  Portent  of  the  Times." 
"  The  Conflict  between  Capital  and  Labor,  and  how  to 
Remove  it."  In  referring  to  the  first  of  these  the  editor 
of  the  Sacramento  Record-Union  called  the  effort  one 
of  Dr.  Dwinell's  best. 

It  was  thoughtful,  incisive,  bold,  based  on  histori- 
cal events,  and  its  conclusions  were  drawn  with  logical 
and  irresistible  force.  He  pointed  out  the  symptoms 
which  betoken  a  communistic  spirit  in  California  and 
other  States.  He  sketched  the  chief  elements  of  the 
Commune,  diagnosed  the  situation,  and  clearl}^  showed 
the  cause  and  the  tendency  of  the  present  attempt  to 
array  classes  against  each  other  ;  to  crush  out  individ- 
uality ;  to  override  divine  personal  rights  ;  to  belittle 
Christianity;  to  set  up  the  practice  of  State  interference 
with  private  rights  at  the  demand  of  the  selfish  inter- 
ests of  a  majority-  ;  to  establish  the  unsound  doctrine 
that  the  State  is  the  only  safe  capitalist,  and  that  it 
may  regulate  the  hours  and  price  of  labor,  and  adjust 
the  rewards  and  relations  of  capital  and  labor.  These 
were  but  a  few  of  the  points  touched  upon,  but  indi- 
cate in  part  the  scope  and  character  of  the  sermon. 

The  conclusion  of  this  discourse  is  :  "I  have  confi- 
dence in  the  American  people  generall}' ,  and  in  Cali- 
fornians — in  their  virtue,  intelligence,  good  sense,  and 
self-recovering  power — that  though  they  may  blunder 
a  little,  and  experiment  a  little,  just  tr>- the  taste  of 
the  rind  of  Communism,  they  will  find  it  so  crude  and 
bitter,  and  entirely   un-American    and    foreign   to  all 


124  ISKAKL    KDSON    DWINELL. 

their  relish,  that  thej^  will  speedily  hurl  it  from  them, 
and  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  it.  We  are  not  go- 
ing to  cast  off  all  our  political  traditions  and  approved 
methods,  and  sacred  regard  for  rights  and  duties,  and 
love  of  personal  liberty,  and  imprison  ourselves  in  the 
absolutism  of  a  multitude.  Never,  while  Bunker  Hill 
remains,  and  the  memory  of  .Washington  survives,  and 
the  blood  of  the  Revolutionary  fathers  flows  in  our 
veins,  and  the  thrill  of  freedom  is  remembered  in  our 
own  souls  !  Never,  w^hile  the  church  and  the  school- 
house   stand  !  " 

In  his  sermon  on  the  conflict  between  capital  and 
labor  he  takes  this  hopeful  view  of  the  solution  of  the 
problem  :  "There  is  a  self-adjusting  power  in  the  eco- 
nomic sj'stem  under  Christian  civilization.  All  its 
laws,  all  its  forces  of  adaptation  and  self-recovery,  are 
not  annihilated.  Chaos  is  not  coming,  because  a  crisis 
has  come  and  the  necessity  of  a  re-adjustment  of  pro- 
ductive forces.  The  real  wants  of  the  countr}^,  to  be 
supplied  by  the  co-operation  of  capital  and  labor,  are  as 
many  as  thej'  ever  were  in  time  of  peace,  and  are  in- 
creasing ever}'  j^ear.  There  is  room  for  all  the  coun- 
try's capital  and  all  the  country's  labor.  When  the 
two  have  had  time  to  sort  themselves  out  of  the  debris, 
adapt  themselves  to  the  new  relations,  make  sure  of 
the  old  enterprises  and  find  out  the  new  ones  demanded 
by  the  real  wants  of  business,  they  will  again  be  on 
relatively  good  terms  with  each  other,  and  both  rela- 
tively content.  What  is  immediately  wanted  is  a  little 
patient  waiting,  forbearance,  good-will  and  hopeful- 
ness on  both  sides,  till  the  self-adjusting  and  self- 
recovering  powers  of  the  economic  world  have  had 
an  opportunity  to  act." 

Other  economic  questions  were    treated  b}-  him  in 


A    CHRISTIAN    CITIZEN.  1 25 

the  pulpit  and  through  his  pen.  When,  after  pro- 
longed agitation,  a  new  Constitution  had  been  adopted 
by  the  people  of  California,  and  many  were  feeling 
troubled  by  the  change,  Dr.  Dwinell  had  a  message  for 
his  people,  and  through  the  columns  of  the  Record- 
Union  to  the  general  public,  on  ' '  The  Dnty  and  Privi- 
lege of  Californians. ' '  He  urged  upon  the  leaders  of 
public  thought,  upon  political  chiefs,  legislators,  and 
the  sovereign  people,  the  duty  of  conserving  and  per- 
petuating the  vitalities  cf  the  commonwealth,  and  of 
carrying  the  State  over  to  the  new  order  without  crip- 
pling it.  "We  should  shun  the  method  of  catastro- 
phes and  breaks.  We  should  not  manipulate  the  deli- 
cate interests  of  business  and  finance  with  earthquakes. 
We  should  not  form  radical  changes  in  jurisprudence  and 
local  government  with  thunder  and  lightning.  *  * 
We  must  be  faithful  to  the  new  Constitution,  accord- 
ing to  its  presumptive  meaning,  till  it  is  wisely  modi- 
fied ;  but  we  must  be  faithful  to  the  higher,  diviner, 
older  Constitution  under  it  as  well,  and  so  move  gently, 
continuously,  wisely,  for  this  is  the  presumptive  mean- 
ing of  both. " 

As  a  representative  Christian  citizen  of  California, 
his  opinion  was  sought  by  several  religious  journals 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  His  view  of  what  has 
often  been  on  the  Pacific  Coast  a  burning  question  was 
clearh- expressed  as  early  as  1879,  in  an  article  from 
his  pen,  appearing  in  T/w  Congregdtionalist .  "There 
are  few  persons  who  have  studied  the  Chinese  question 
in  California,  as  a  far-reaching  social  problem,  who 
would  like  to  have  the  number  of  Chinese  increase  in 
California.  All  of  our  better  people  believe  in  treating 
them  well,  doing  them  good,  and  Christianizing  them 
as  far  as  possible,  and  in  maintaining  all  treat}'  stipu- 


126  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINKLL. 

lations  with  the  Chinese  government,  till  the  treaty 
can  be  wisely  and  honorably  modified.  They  feel 
there  is  no  need  of  hot  haste  in  checking  the  immigra- 
tion, for  any  reason  of  social  order,  polit  cal  economj', 
or  Christian  statesmanship.  It  would  doubtless  occa- 
sion more  distress  to  the  American  population  in  Cali- 
fornia to  remove  the  Chinese  summarily,  even  if  that 
could  be  done  without  injury  to  them  and  with  their 
good-will,  before  other  good  laborers  c  )uld  be  found  to 
take  their  places  in  the  families  and  elsewhere,  than 
their  presence  here  has  caused  ever  since  their  arrival. 
In  fact,  if  there  were  no  fear  that  there  might  be  a 
great  increase  of  their  number,  I  imagine  the  majority 
of  the  people  in  the  State  would  regard  their  presence 
with  indifference.  But  when  we  remember  that  most 
of  them  come  from  a  small  district  about  Hong  Kong, 
that  the  gates  of  China  have  never  yet  been  practi- 
cally open  for  the  egress  of  her  oppressed  and  often - 
famished  millions,  and  that  here  their  condition,  civil 
and  material,  is  so  much  improved,  it  seems  the  part 
of  wise  statesmanship  to  restrict  the  incongruous  occu- 
pation before  its  proportions  put  it  beyond  control.  " 

Eight  5'ears  later  he  gives  to  The  Cougregationalist 
what  he  regarded  as  the  sober  Christian  view  in  Cali- 
fornia on  the  Chinese  question.  Restriction,  rather 
than  exclusion,  on  the  one  hand,  or  unlimited  immi- 
gration on  the  other,  continued  to  be  his  position. 
"It  is  net  a  desirable  immigration  to  encourage." 
"These  views,"  he  says,  in  conclusion,  "  are  those  of 
the  class  making  most  sacrifice  and  doing  most  to 
Christianize  the  Chinese  and  do  them  good." 

The  work  of  the  American  Missionary  Association, 
as  conducted  among  the  Chinese,  through  its  auxili- 
ary, the  California  Chinese  Mission,  greatly  interested 


A    CHRISTIAN    CITIZEN.  1 27 

Dr.  Dwinell.  Christian  schools,  in  their  behalf,  and 
especially  a  Mission  School  in  Sacramento,  found  in 
him  a  friend  and  advocate.  His  personal  presence  and 
words  of  encouragement,  as  well  as  regular  Sunday 
evening  instruction  of  Chinese  by  members  of  his  fam- 
ily, are  evidence  of  his  faith  in  the  power  of  the  Gospel 
over  the  Chinaman  in  America.  In  speaking  of  the 
beginning  of  this  work,  and  some  of  the  happy  results 
that  had  come  under  his  personal  observation,  he  said  : 
"  The  wedge  is  entering  the  Chinese  Empire." 

During  his  long  pastorate  in  Sacramento  no  worth}- 
cause  failed  to  find  in  him  a  read}^  advocate.  When 
the  city's  health  was  imperilled  bj-  bad  sewerage,  he 
followed  up  the  suggestion  of  a  daily  paper,  and  called 
a  meeting  of  citizens  "  interested  in  the  adoption  of 
some  effective  and  economical  system  of  sewerage,  to 
meet  in  the  Court  House  to  consider  the  subject." 

Representative  citizens  assembled,  and  a  full  discus- 
sion was  had  of  various  schemes.  Dr.  Dwinell  showing 
in  his  address  that  he  was  as  familiar  with  the  princi- 
ples of  city  sanitation  as  wnth  systems  of  theolog3^ 
When  a  library  a  sociation  in  San  Francisco  obtained 
a  special  dispensation  from  the  Legislature  to  conduct 
a  lottery  under  the  guise  of  a  grand  gift  concert,  pro- 
ducing a  general  infection  throughout  the  State,  Dr. 
Dwinell,  from  his  pulpit  and  in  the  public  press, 
declared  against  mixed  ethics.  "It  is  not  pleasant, 
friends,  fellow  citizens,"  he  said,  "  to  criticise  popular 
public  movements  ;  but  a  minister  must  look  sharpl}'^ 
after  the  moral  as  well  as  the  spiritual  driftings  of  the 
community,  and  evermore  try  to  keep  before  his  hearers 
the  higher  light  and  the  better  way.  He  lives  to 
make  men  and  societ}-  better  ;  to  help  them  in  their 
Godward  relations.     And  if  there  is  anything  which 


128  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

the  industr}',  morality  and  religion  of  Californians 
needs,  it  is  to  have  their  desire  for  sudden  and  large, 
and  perhaps  mysterious,  gains  sobered  down.  From 
the  settlement  of  the  State,  this  has  been  our  fatal 
fever.  Our  mines,  our  speculations,  our  experimental 
husbandry,  our  El  Dorado  mirages  of  various  sorts, 
have  burned  out  the  heart  and  the  brain  of  multitudes. 
Only  recent!}^  the  pulse  has  begun  to  beat  more  natu- 
rally, and  feverish  adventure  to  give  place  to  more 
sober  industry.  Now  this  scheme  *  *  *  causes 
a  relapse  throughout  the  State,  and  sets  the  blood  on 
fire  again.  *  *  *  it  will  be  a  good  day  for  Cali- 
fornia when  her  citizens  can  afford  to  wait  to  be  rich 
through  honorable  industr3^  This  will  promote  wealth, 
health,  sanity,  moralit}^  and  religion." 

Such  a  sermon  and  the  occasion  for  it  suggest  the 
marked  contrast  between  the  pastorates  in  Salem  and 
in  Sacramento,  between  the  bewitched  communities  of 
the  Seventeenth  and  the  Nineteenth  Centuries.  It  is 
not  every  man  who  could  rank  among  the  foremost 
citizens  of  two  communities  so  unlike.  It  is  not  every 
pastor  who  could  devote  his  earh^  manhood  to  the 
quiet  tasks  of  a  venerable  parish,  and  his  later  man- 
hood to  intricate  and  pressing  labors  that  belong  with- 
out as  well  as  within  a  youthful  parish  in  a  restless 
State.  But  the  man  from  Salem  was  the  right  man 
for  Sacramento,  for  California.  He  proved  himself  a 
sociologist  as  well  as  a  theologian.  Finding,  in  1873, 
that  the  State  Prison  was  fast  filling  with  youthful 
offenders,  he  called  public  attention  to  the  need  of  a 
Reform  School.  In  1874  he  drew  up  a  Reform  School 
bill,  containing  twenty-three  sections,  procured  its 
introduction  into  the  Legislature,  and  used  his  pen  in 
advocacv  of  the  measure. 


A    CHRISTIAN    CITIZEN.  1 29 

When  speculative  excitement  was  running  high  in 
1875,  and  multitudes  were  investing  in  stock  of  the 
"  bonanza  "  mines,  a  clear  voice,  giving  forth  no  un- 
certain sound,  was  heard  from  the  Congregational  pul- 
pit of  Sacramento.  "  Be  sure  there  is  nothing  better 
in  all  the  secular  realm  than  a  life  of  industry, — good, 
solid  industry,  and  a  heroic  practice  of  the  industrial 
virtues.  A  better  manhood  is  built  up  under  them 
than  under  an}'  other  kind  of  secular  training.  Society 
flourishes  better  on  this  basis,  and  \'ou  go  up  from  it 
more  naturall}^  and  successfully  to  all  the  grand  cul- 
ture, tastes,  accomplishments  and  services  which  adorn 
earth  or  fit  for  heaven.  " 

Whatever  interested  Sacramento,  interested  Dr. 
Dwinell.  He  loved  the  city.  His  sympathies  were 
with  faithful  Christian  workers  of  whatever  name. 
With  ail  good  citizens  he  co-operated  for  the  building 
up  of  institutions,  for  the  cultivation  of  intellectual 
life,  for  the  repression  of  crime,  for  the  promotion  of 
public  education.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Sacramento  Protestant  Orphan  Asylum, 
Mrs.  Dwinell  being  for  several  years  President  of  the 
Board  of  Lady  Managers. 

He  led  in  the  organization  of  the  Sacramento  Liter- 
ary Institute,  designed  to  promote  literary  culture  by 
means  of  courses  of  lectures.  Of  the  Agassiz  Institute, 
a  literary  society  called  into  existence  as  a  result  of  a 
visit  of  Louis  Agassiz  to  Sacramento,  Dr.  Dwinell 
was  an  active  and  interested  member. 

"Was  there  a  noted  visitor  to  be  introduced?  It 
was  most  generall}-  Dr.  Dwinell  who  stood  beside  him 
upon  the  platform,  and  in  a  few  well-chosen  and 
scholarly  words  made  the  piiblic  acquainted  with  the 
person  and  his  history.     Was  there  a  crisis  in  the  Na- 


130  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINEIX- 

tion's  histor}',  such  as  that  of  the  death  of  President 
Garfield  ?  It  was  Dr.  Dwinell  who  was  called  upon  to 
lift  the  people  out  of  their  despondency,  and  point  out 
to  them  how  the  eternal  principles  of  justice  and  of 
righteousness  would  secure  vindication,  notwithstand- 
ing what  single  hand  might  fail  and  what  new  pilot  be 
called  to  the  helm  of  State.  Was  it  a  moment  of 
peculiar  civil  agitation,  when  an  inoffensive  citizen 
had  been  murdered  by  a  crazed  assassin  ?  It  w^as  again 
Dr.  Dwine  1  who  was  called  upon  to  address  the 
throng  which  gathered  at  the  obsequies,  and  to  coun- 
sel forbearance,  and  a  firm  reliance  upon  the  enginery 
of  the  law." — Rev.  C.  P.  Massey,  Jr.,  in  Memorial 
Sermon. 

He  took  great  satisfaction  in  meeting  weekly  with 
his  brethren  of  all  denominations  in  the  city.  Here 
the  bond  of  sj^mpathy  between  the  churches  was 
strengthened.  Here  each  pastor  learned  what  the 
others  were  doing,  and  together  the}^  planned  for  the 
common  good,  and  presented  a  united  front  to  all  forms 
of  organized  evil. 

To  write  further  of  this  Sacramento  pastorate  would 
be  a  delightful  occupation,  but  enough  has  been  said 
to  reveal  its  spirit,  to  exhibit  its  strength,  and  to  show 
its  far-reaching  influence. 

He  prepared  and  preached  able  sermons  ;  he  at- 
tended most  minutely  to  the  social  and  distinctively 
pastoral  duties  of  his  position,  especially  devoting  him- 
self to  the  sick  and  afflicted  in  his  parish  ;  and  j'et,  as 
w^e  have  seen,  met  the  multitudinous  claims  of  Chris- 
tianity and  civilization  that  engaged  his  attention  be- 
yond the  limits  of  his  own  city.  His  sermons  which 
were  published  in  the  daily  papers  of  Sacramento 
would  fill  a  volume.   His  sermons  and  communications 


A    CHRISTIAN    CITIZEN.  131 

that  appeared  in  The  Pacific  of  San  Francisco  would 
fill  several  volumes.  He  was  well  known  to  readers 
of  religious  papers  in  the  Eastern  States,  and  his  arti- 
cles in  the  religious  Quarterlies  heretofore  referred  to 
appeared  not  infrequently,  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
It  is  a  pastorate  especially  marked  and  beneficent: 
a  work  to  thank  God  for,  especialh'  when  it  is  remem- 
bered that  at  its  beginning  his  life  hung  in  the  bal- 
ance, and  throughout  the  score  of  years  he  was  never 
physically  robust. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

AX    INSTITUTION-BUILDER. 

In  his  boj'hood,  Dr.  Dwinell,  as  we  have  seen,  hun- 
gered for  a  liberal  education,  and  surmounted  obstacles 
great  and  numerous,  in  order  that  he  might  thoroughh' 
equip  his  mind  with  the  profoundest  knowledge  and 
broadest  culture  attainable.  Through  all  after  \'ears 
he  recognized  his  indebtedness  to  the  institutions  in 
which  he  had  been  educated. 

There  was  nothing,  however,  in  his  environment  at 
Salem  to  call  out  his  energies  in  the  direction  of  help- 
ing plant  and  maintain  institutions  of  learning.  He 
was  in  the  midst  of  schools,  for  the  most  part  centers 
of  Christian  culture,  accessible  to  all  classes  of  5-oung 
people ;  schools  that  had  proved  their  right  to  live  bj- 
the  struggles  out  of  which  they  had  emerged,  and  b}- 
the  noble  lives  they  had  helped  to  develop.  In  his 
own  city  are  the  Essex  Institute,  the  Peabody  Acad- 
emy of  Science,  and  one  of  the  State  Normal  Schools. 
Within  the  county  of  Essex  are  the  famous  Andover 
schools,  Phillips  Academy  for  boys,  the  Theological 
Semimary,  and  the  Abbot  Academy  for  girls.  There, 
too,  is  Bradford  Academy, — the  oldest  seminary  for 
young  women  in  the  country,  where  is  cherished  the 
memory  of  Mrs.  Judson  and  Harriet  Newell  with  a 
tenderness  akin  to  that  of  Mary  Lyon  at  Mt.  Holyoke 
Seminary  ;  while  Harvard  University,  Amherst  Col- 
lege and  a  galaxy  of  lesser  institutions  are  but  a  few 
miles  awav. 


134  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

California  presented  a  striking  contrast  to  all  this  in 
1863.  Famous,  the  world  over,  for  its  wealth,  the 
State  claimed  no  citizen  of  means  whose  heart  inclined 
him  to  give  largely  to  educational  work.  The  College 
of  California,  the  outgrowth  of  a  union  of  effort  among 
several  denominations,  chief  of  which  were  the  Con- 
gregational and  (  New  School )  Presbyterians,  had  not 
yet  graduated  its  first  class.  Its  main  feeder,  the  Col- 
lege School  in  Oakland,  \vas  conspicuous  not  only  for 
its  excellence,  but  also  for  its  solitariness. 

A.S  a  denomination,  Congregalionalists  in  California 
possessed  but  a  fraction  of  an  educational  institution. 
Around  this,  however,  they  rallied  wdth  enthusiasm 
and  hope,  and  in  their  weakness  were  ready  to  extend 
their  system  of  Christian  education  upon  the  same 
union  basis. 

The  General  Association  of  California  in  the  year 
1864  gave  voice  to  the  deepening  conviction  that  a 
Theological  Seminary  in  the  State  was  already  a  neces- 
sity. Its  committee  on  education,  of  w^hich  Rev.  W. 
C.  Pond  was  chairman,  suggested  "  that  the  time  is 
coming  and  now  is,  when  a  Theological  Seminary  should 
be  a  matter  of  definite  consideration  with  reference  to 
practical  action . ' '  Upon  their  recommendation  a  stand- 
ing committee  was  appointed  to  take  the  matter  in 
hand. 

The  following  year  a  committee,  consisting  of  Rev. 
I.  E.  Dwinell,  Rev.  Geo.  Mooar  and  Mr.  J.  M.  Haven 
reported  in  favor  of  making  overtures  to  representa- 
tives of  various  religious  bodies  in  California,  with  ref- 
erence to  some  system  of  co-operation  in  founding  a 
Theological  Seminary.  They  also  recommended  that 
inquiries  be  made  whether  it  was  practicable  to  place 
the  proposed  Seminar}^  in  close  relationship  to  the  Col- 


AN    INSTITUTIOX-I5UILDER.  1 35 

lege  of  California.     These  and  other  recommendations 
were  adopted. 

In  October,  1865,  at  Sacramento,  a  committee,  con- 
sisting of  Dr.  Dwinell  and  Rev.  W.  C.  Pond,  reported 
a  definite  plan  for  the  organization  of  a  Congregational 
Theological  Seminary  Association,  whose  mission 
should  be  the  establishing  and  maintaining  a  Congre- 
gational Theological  Seminary  in  California.  The 
General  Association,  in  adopting  their  report,  resolved 
that  immediate  steps  be  taken  to  establish  the  proposed 
Theological  Seminary  ;  that  a  meeting  of  friends  of  the 
object  be  held  the  following  daj^  and  that  a  committee 
be  appointed  to  present  to  that  meeting  a  suitable  con- 
stitution. 

On  Thursday,  October  11,  1866,  the  Seminary  As- 
sociation was  organized,  the  constitution  of  which  was 
recommended  by  a  committee  of  which  Dr.  Dwinell 
was  chairman. 

During  the  year  previous.  Dr.  Dwinell,  in  behalf  of 
the  committee,  wrote  to  representatives  of  five  denom- 
inations, asking  whether  their  respective  denominations 
would  probably  favor  the  establishment  of  a  Union 
Seminary  in  San  Francisco.  In  no  case  did  he  receive 
a  favorable  reply,  nor  did  a  proposition  looking  to 
some  close  connection  of  a  denominational  seminary 
with  the  College  of  California  meet  with  favor  on  the 
part  of  its  president. 

The  question  which  now  presented  itself  was  : 
"Shall  the  Congregationalists  assume  this  enterprise 
alone  ?  Shall  we  interpret  the  attitude  of  the  other 
denominations  as  a  providential  indication  that  we 
have  no  further  duty  in  the  premises,  or  as  a  providen- 
tial hint  of  the  way  in  which  we  are  to  discharge  our 
duty?  " 


136  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

"The  want  of  a  Theological  Seminar}'  in  our  State 
remains  the  same,  an  absolute  necessity,  in  order  to 
provide  our  population  with  a  ministry  S3'mpathetic 
and  homogeneous,  and  to  meet  the  fact  that  Christi- 
anity everywhere  carries  with  it  the  germs  of  its  own 
equipment  into  every  new  country  widely  separated 
from  old  Christian  centers,  and  the  law  that  as  soon  as 
possible  it  must  develop  them  there.  If  we  (in  Cali- 
fornia) cannot  produce  our  ministers,  we  shall  soon  be 
incompetent  to  build  our  chiirches  or  say  our  prayers. 
Christianity  must  work  out  its  ideas,  evolve  its 
germs,  meet  its  necessities,  or  it  droops. 

' '  Does  not  Providence,  in  leading  others  to  decline 
co-operation,  direct  us  to  undertake  this  work?  We 
do  not  suggest,  under  the  present  aspect  of  facts,  anj^ 
other  than  a  Congregational  Seminary.  It  seems  then 
that,  if  we  ought  to  have  a  thorough  and  adequate 
Theological  Seminary,  the  Congregationalists  are  the 
party  to  inaugurate  a  direct  movement. 

' '  The  financial  problem  presents  greater  embarass- 
ments.  We  have  few  w-ealthy  church  members,  and 
not  a  large  church  membership  all  told,  and  man}^  of 
them  are  doing  already  as  much  as  their  means  will 
justify.  It  would  be  best  to  begin  in  a  humble  way, 
avoid  the  expense  of  building,  and  have  not  more  than 
two  professors,  perhaps  but  one,  and  these  professor- 
ships should  be  endowed.  It  is  believed  that  we  could 
command  the  means  to  do  so  much  very  soon,  and 
that  Providence  would  provide  increased  means  as  our 
necessities  should  demand.  It  would  be  reasonable 
to  hope  that  we  might  have  some  large  donations. 
We  might  calculate  on  the  warmest  sympathy  of  all 
Congregationalists.  Many  benevolent  persons  not 
members  of  any  church,  but  interested  in  the  w^elfare 


AN    INSTITUTION-BUII<DER.  137 

of  the  State,  would  aid  the  enterprise  ;  doubtless,  also, 
some  members  of  other  denominations;  and  we  should 
receive  some  contributions  from  persons  in  the  East- 
ern States.  On  general  grounds,  to  make  the  bonds 
of  sympathy  and  vitality  between  the  institution  and 
the  churches  as  strong  as  possible,  it  would  be  best  to 
have  a  collection  taken  up  in  each  Congregational 
Church  ever}^  year  for  some  object  in  connection  with 
the  Seminary,  and  this  would  incidentally  pour  a  stream 
into  the  treasury. " 

Thus  he  pleads  before  the  General  Association  of 
California  in  favor  of  establishing  a  seminary  of  sacred 
learning,  and  it  is  interesting  to  look  back  and  see  how 
literall}^  almost  all  of  his  recommendations  and  predic- 
tions have  been  fulfilled. 

The  Pacific  Theological  Seminary  was  opened  for 
instruction  in  1S69.  The  twelve  trustees, — of  whom 
Dr.  Dwinell,  until  the  time  of  his  death,  was  one, — 
decided  to  begin  the  institution  in  an  humble  way. 
To  avoid  the  expense  of  building  they  rented  rooms  on 
the  fourth  floor  of  a  building  on  Montgomery  street  in 
San  Francisco.  At  first  but  one  professor  was  elected, 
soon  a  second,  and  these  professorships  were  endowed. 
Not  for  twenty  3^ears  was  a  third  professorship  en- 
dowed. After  three  years  the  present  beautiful  site  of 
the  seminan,^  was  bought,  and  the  institution  trans- 
ferred to  Oakland.  From  time  to  time  large  donations 
have  been  received.  The  seminary  has  had  assurances 
of  the  warmest  sympathy  of  Congregationalists,  and 
large  aid  to  the  enterprise  has  come  from  men  not 
members  of  any  church,  but  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  the  State.  From  Eastern  States  have  come  many 
thousands  of  dollars  into  the  treasury,  and  annuall}^ 
contributions  to  the  seminary  have  been  received  from 
some  of  the  churches,  and  "  Seminary  Sunday  "  has  a 
10 


138  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

recognized  place  in  the  Congregational  calendar  of 
California. 

Dr.  Dwinell  was  twice  called  to  a  professorship  in 
the  seminary.  In  the  autumn  of  1868  the  trustees 
were  read}'  to  elect  the  first  professor  in  the  embryo 
institution.  All  eyes  turned  to  the  pastor  in  Sacra- 
mento, whose  influence  had  been  so  weighty  in  the 
gradual  development  of  plans  for  the  founding  and 
maintaining  of  the  seminary. 

B}^  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  Board,  Dr.  Dwinell  was 
chosen  to  be  the  first  professor.  This  action  of  the 
Board  was  communicated  to  him  in  the  following  letter 
by  a  committee  consisting  of  Rev.  A.  L.  Stone,  D.D., 
and  J.  A.  Benton  : 

"  San  Francisco,  Oct.  19,  1868. 
' '  Dr.  I.  E.  Dwinell, 

"  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir : — The  Trustees  of  the  Cali- 
fornia Theological  Seminary,  guided  by  the  action  of 
the  Seminary  Association,  at  its  recent  annual  meet- 
ing in  the  citj'  of  Oakland,  have  elected  you  as  first 
professor  or  acting  president  of  the  seminary.  They 
reached  this  result  with  entire  unanimit}',  and  with 
the  most  earnest  hope  that  you  will  accede  to  their 
wishes  and  accept  the  appointment. 

"The  undersigned  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
acquaint  3'ou  with  the  action  of  the  trustees,  and  solicit 
your  favorable  consideration  of  their  proposals. 

' '  We  are  instructed  to  offer  you  a  salary'  of  three 
thousand  dollars  per  annum,  payable  monthly  in  U. 
S.  gold  coin  ;  and  to  apprise  j'ou  that  it  is  the  wish 
of  the  trustees  that  your  first  effort  should  be  directed 
to  the  completion  of  the  first  endowment  of  $25,000. 
They  believe  that  the  successful  issue  of  this  effort 
will  leave  you  at  liberty  to  commence  a  course  of  the- 


AN   INSTITUTIOX-BUILDER.  1 39 

ological  instruction  b}-  the  ist  of  January',  1869. 
Already,  since  the  action  of  the  trustees,  we  have  re- 
ceived a  subscription  of  $1000  to  our  Seminary  Fund. 

' '  The  undersigned  can  urge  nothing  in  regard  to 
the  strong  and  pressing  claims  of  the  institution  whose 
practical  working  is  thus  sought  to  be  inaugurated, 
which  does  not  already  rest  with  equal  force  upon  your 
own  mind.  We  feel  fully  the  importance  of  the  field 
of  pastoral  labor  which  you  now  occupy,  and  know 
the  success  and  faithfulness  of  your  service  in  that 
field.  We  can  understand  something  of  the  sacrifice 
it  will  be  for  an  attached  and  united  people  to  relin- 
quish such  a  ministry,  and  the  violence  to  j^our  own 
heart  of  sundering  ties  so  dear  and  sacred,  of  such  long 
continuance. 

"  But  it  is  our  judgment  that  the  good  to  be  accom- 
plished in  laying  the  foundation  of  a  system  of  theo- 
logical instruction  in  such  an  institution  as  is  proposed, 
and  helping  to  equip  successive  bands  of  spiritual 
laborers  for  this  great  harvest  field  of  the  farthest  West 
now  white  unto  the  reaping,  may  well  outweigh  with 
yourself  and  the  beloved  church  of  which  you  are  pas- 
tor all  the  persuasives  that  hold  you  fast  in  that  fellow- 
ship. 

"  We  beseech  God  to  give  you  to  us  and  to  the  cause 
which  we  plead. 

"  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Trustees,  if  you  accept  this 
appointment,  that  you  should  enter  upon  the  duties  of 
the  office  to  which  they  invite  you  as  near  to  the  ist 
of  November  as  you  can  bring  the  conclusion  of  your 
present  engagements. 

"  Fraternally  5-ours, 

"  In  behalf  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Theo.  Sem.  of  Cal. 

"A.  h.  Stonk. 
"J.  A.  Benton." 


140  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

His  reply  show^  how  he  magnified  the  importance 
of  the  field  to  which  he  had  been  called.  It  does  not 
show  how  he  shrank  from  leaving  an  important  pas- 
torate among  a  people  who  loved  him  most  enthusias- 
tically, to  enter  an  untried  field  and  an  institution  as 
yet  without  a  pupil.  His  letter  of  resignation  as  pas- 
tor at  Sacramento  reveals  this.  The  letter  of  accept- 
ance is  as  follows  : 

"  To  Rev.  A.  L.  Stone,  D.D.,  ami  Rev.  J.  A.  Benton, 
Com.  of  Trustees  of  Cat.  Theol.  Sent.  Ass'n, 
"  Dear  Brethren  : 

"With  much  painstaking  and  prayer  I  have  con- 
sidered the  action  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Cal.  Theol. 
Seminary,  communicated  to  me  in  your  letter  dated 
Oct.  19th  inst. ,  inviting  me  to  be  the  first  professor  or 
acting  president  of  the  Seminary. 

"  I  shrink  from  the  arduousness  of  such  an  under- 
taking, in  '  the  days  of  small  things, '  of  an  institution 
of  this  kind,  among  a  people  who  generally  have  little 
preparation  or  sympathy  for  it,  and  little  appreciation 
of  its  necessity. 

' '  But  the  importance  of  the  enterprise  in  relation  to 
the  whole  future  of  Christianity  and  civilization  on  this 
coast,  and  the  influence  which  this  western  side  of  the 
continent  is  to  have  on  the  eastern,  and  also  on  the 
commerce  of  the  Pacific  and  the  destinj-  of  the  races 
to  the  west  of  us,  makes  me  feel  that  it  may  be  my 
dut}'  to  accept,  and  to  work  with  you  and  others  in  the 
capacity  named,  in  founding  a  school  for  the  training 
of  Christian  ministers  for  this  vast  field. 

"  If  I  refuse  to  do  so,  I  am  afraid  I  shall  grieve 
Christ.  But  if  Christ  calls  to  this  work,  he  calls  not 
one  person  but  the  churches.     He  calls  the  Christian 


AN    INSTITUTION-BUILDER.  I4I 

people  of  California.  In  calling  me  you  only  accept 
Christ's  call,  you  do  not  fulfill  and  terminate  it ;  it  still 
is  resting  on  you.  This  conviction  gives  me  heart  and 
hope.  I  shall  only  be  a  fellow  worker  in  a  common 
cause,  working  with  you,  \yorking  with  and  for  the 
churches,  in  some  respects  your  and  their  organ.  But 
without  these  bonds  of  a  living  sympathy  and  union 
and  co-operation,  I  shall  be  powerless  and  useless. 
Only  a  few  things  I  can  do,  the  rest  you  and  the  good 
people  of  California  and  the  land  must  do. 

' '  Soon  I  trust  you  will  be  able  to  call  other  and  bet- 
ter hands  to  share  your  w^ork  in  the  Seminary  with  me. 
I  shall  need  them  and  welcome  them. 

' '  With  the  conviction  that  this  is  to  be  a  co-work,  and 
with  the  understanding,  which  need  hardly  be  named, 
that  the  institution  is  to  be  conducted  on  a  broad  cath- 
olic basis  of  Christian  learning,  in  spirit  to  be  conserv- 
ative of  the  wisdom  and  the  truth  of  the  past,  in  meth- 
ods and  applications  to  be  alive  to  the  wants  of  the 
time  and  region,  it  is  my  intention  at  an  early  day  to 
tender  my  resignation  as  pastor,  and  request  a  council 
to  advise  on  the  question  of  my  dismission.  I  prefer, 
however,  not  to  enter  into  the  service  of  the  trustees 
till  the  ist  of  January,  and  then  as  a  professor." 

The  letter  resigning  the  pastorate  in  order  to  accept 
the  professorship  is  as  follows  : 

"  To  the  First  Congregational  ChiircJi  of  Christ  in  Sac- 
ramento, and  the  Society  connected  therewith^ 
"  Dear  Brethren  and  Friends  : 
"  In  consequence  of  the  action  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
California  Theological  Seminary  Association,  request- 
ing me  to  become  the  first  professor  of  the  Seminary, 
aiid  to  be  ready  to  begin  a  course  of  instruction  on  the 


142  ISRAEL   EDSOX    DWINELL. 

ist  of  January,  I  have  concluded,  after  much  reflection 
and  praj-er,  that  it  is  my  duty  to  tender  you  the  resig- 
nation of  luy  pastoral  office  with  a  view  to  accepting. 

"It  is  but  just  to  say  that  I  have  not  sought  nor 
desired  the  proposed  change,  and  that  I  have  come  to 
this  conclusion  with  misgiving  and  sorrow.  You  have 
borne  yourselves  toward  me  and  my  family  kindly  and 
generously.  I  have  become  warmly  attached  to  you, 
to  my  work  here  and  the  place  ;  and  now  to  leave  as 
pastor  a  united,  devoted,  generous  people,  increasing 
in  strength  and  ability,  and  just  coming  into  possession 
of  long-sought  blessings, — in  a  place  which  has  been 
struggling  up  against  great  obstacles,  but  is  now  en- 
tering on  a  career  of  large  and  unquestioned  prosper- 
ity, a  position  commanding  public  respect  and  honor 
and  aboundng  in  the  solace  of  noble  Christian  com- 
munings,— and  engage  in  an  enterprise  which  must  be 
very  humble  at  first,  which  fails  to  impress  even  many 
good  people  as  a  prime  necessity,  which  rests  on  faith 
in  ideas  and  spiritual  forces,  faith  in  God  and  in  his 
kingdom  on  earth,  and  which  aims  principally  at  the 
good  of  the  future  and  at  future  results,  and  this  with 
no  motives  of  wealth  or  ease  or  gain  or  more  attract- 
ive labor  or  greater  immediate  usefulness  influencing 
the  decision,  requires  no  little  moral  courage,  and 
with  the  uncertainties  still  enveloping  many  of  the 
elements  of  the  subject,  more  sacrifice  than  I  have  at 
all  times  felt  like  making , 

"  But  I  reflect  on  the  sublime  position  which  Provi- 
dence indicates  that  this  State  is  to  hold  in  the  civiliza- 
tion of  the  future,  as  a  citadel  of  the  American  Repub- 
lic on  the  Pacific  Coast,  the  key  to  the  Orient,  and  the 
western  side  of  the  moral  balance-wheel  of  the  Con- 
tinent.    I  foresee  that  it  is  to  be  occupied  by  teeming 


AN    INSTITUTION-BUILDER.  1 43 

millions,  some  of  whom,  a  mixed  population,  are  on 
the  way  from  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  know  that 
these  must  be  met  and  moulded  by  Christian  institu- 
tions and  influences  or  we  shall  lose  our  grand  oppor- 
tunity and  fail  of  our  sublime  mission.  I  remember 
that  to  do  this  we  must  begin  at  the  commencement  of 
the  life  of  the  States,  and  dig  deep  and  build  strong 
and  lay  moral  foundations,  and  that  among  the  most 
essential  of  these  is  the  means  for  raising  up  a  supply 
of  Christian  ministers  for  all  the  counties,  towns  and 
settlements  now  existing,  and  hereafter  to  be  in  this 
vast  domain,  and  that  years  must  be  consumed  before 
any  adequate  supply  can  be  secured,  even  if  we  begin 
now.  I  call  all  this  to  mind,  and  I  feel  that  the  work 
of  training  young  men  for  the  Christian  ministry  under 
these  circumstances  may  have  more  imperative  claims 
on  me  than  the  ministerial  work  of  a  single  parish,  and 
that  the  service  of  laying  the  foundation  (though  it  be 
for  the  present  out  of  sight,)  for  a  future  supply  of 
preachers  of  the  gospel  may  be  more  pleasing  to  the 
Master  and  more  useful  to  the  future  generations  than 
to  occupy  a  single  pulpit,  though  it  be  a  conspicuous 
and  important  one. 

"  Accordingly  I  tender  you  my  resignation,  to  take 
effect  on  the  first  of  January,  and  request  you  to  unite 
with  me  in  calling  a  council  to  advise  in  the  prem- 
ises, and,  if  deemed  best,  to  recommend  the  termina- 
tion of  the  pastoral  relation  at  that  time. 

' '  Yours  in  Christian  love  and  fellowship, 

"I.  E.  DWINELL. 

"Sacramento,  Nov.  17,  186S." 

At  the  thought  of  losing  this  beloved  pastor  and 
honored  citizen  all  Sacramento  arose  as  one  man.     His 


144  ISRAEL   EDSOX    DWINELL. 

church  and  congregation  took  immediate  measures  to 
induce  him  to  withdraw  his  resignation.  Business 
men  not  connected  with  his  parish  joined  in  the  effort 
to  persuade  him  to  remain  in  Sacramento.  Meetings 
were  called,  and  a  committee  of  the  church  and  also  a 
joint  committee  of  the  church  and  society  presented 
to  him  the  unanimous  request  of  the  church,  the  con- 
gregation and  the  society  that  he  should  withdraw  the 
resignation.  The  sympathy,  affection  and  apprecia- 
tion of  his  labors,  as  disclosed  at  this  time,  were  very 
gratifying  to  him.  Less  of  a  Puritan  than  he  might 
at  once  have  3-ielded  to  such  an  exhibition  of  enthusi- 
astic devotion.  "  I  fully  appreciate  these  kindty  feel- 
ings," is  his  reply  to  the  church  and  society,  "  but  the 
question  of  duty  in  reference  to  the  call  to  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  is  one  that  so  relates  to  the  interests 
of  all  the  churches  on  this  coast  that  I  do  not  feel  at 
liberty  to  decline  it  without  the  advice  of  a  council." 

He  then  urges  that  the  question  be  discussed  in  the 
community,  and  be  carried  before  the  council  as  one 
that  in  great  measure  was  to  turn,  not  on  personal 
considerations,  but  on  the  relative  claims  of  the  fields. 
' '  Therefore  with  all  love  and  good-will  to  the  church 
and  society,  and  with  due  deference  to  the  action  of  a 
council,  to  whom  the  question  may  be  submitted,  I 
now  make  my  resignation,  as  much  as  in  me  lies, 
final." 

On  the  fifteenth  day  of  December  an  Ecclesiastical 
Council  of  Congregational  Churches  assembled  at  the 
church  in  Sacramento.  A  large  congregation  of  Sac- 
ramentans  assembled  also. 

Members  of  the  council,  prominent  among  them  Dr. 
A.  L.  Stone,  sought  to  convince  the  church  that  the 
call  of  the  seminary  to  their  pastor  was  none  other 


AN    INSTITUTION-BUILDER.  145 

than  the  call  of  God.  The  feeling  of  the  church  was, 
however,  !-:o  intense,  and  the  evidence  of  Dr.  Dwinell's 
eminent  usefulness  as  a  pastor  in  the  capital  of  Cali- 
fornia was  so  strong,  that  the  most  ardent  advocates 
in  the  council  of  Dr.  Dwinell's  transfer  to  the  semi- 
nar}' could  not  advise  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral 
relation. 

To  the  great  joy  of  his  church,  and  the  general  sat- 
isfaction of  the  communit}'.  Dr.  Dwinell  remained  in 
Sacramento. 

His  second  call  to  a  professorship  was  at  the  close 
of  his  long  pastorate  at  Sacramento.  The  chair  to 
which  he  was  called  in  1868  was  soon  filled  b}'  Rev. 
J.  A.  Benton,  the  immediate  and  only  predecessor  of 
Dr.  Dwinell  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Sacramento  church. 
Subsequently  Rev.  Geo.  Mooar,  then  pastor  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  in  Oakland,  was  called 
to  a  professorship.  For  years,  while  the  need  of  more 
instruction  was  very  great,  the  way  did  not  open  for 
securing  it.  Meantime  the  seminary  had  been  send- 
ing year  by  j-ear  young  men  into  California  churches, 
and  the  mission  fields  of  Mexico,  Africa  and  China. 
A  score  of  students  were  annualh*  in  attendance.  Dr. 
Dwinell  having  returned  from  months  of  travel  in 
Palestine  and  Europe,  was  scarcely  back  in  California 
again,  when  the  trustees  of  the  seminary  called  him  to 
the  chair  of  Homiletics — a  chair  not  j-et  endowed. 
This  position  he  accepted,  and  began  instruction  in 
September,  1884.  The  permanent  endowment  of  his 
professorship  was  subsequently  given,  out  of  personal 
esteem  for  him  by  his  friends,  Messrs.  C.  P.  Hunting- 
ton, Moses  Hopkins  and  Mrs.  Charles  Crocker,  the 
first  and  the  last  of  whom  had  been  attendants,  in  for- 
mer days,   upon  his    ministry  in  Sacramento.      This 


146  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

chair  he  occupied,  with  great  enjoyment  on  his  part 
and  with  great  satisfaction  to  his  pupils,  until  his  life 
work  was  ended. 

In  his  two-fold  relation  to  the  seminary  as  trustee 
and  teacher,  he  aimed  to  build  up  a  Christian  institu- 
tion that  should  be  upon  a  firm  financial  basis,  and  that 
should  be  the  peer  of  any  in  the  land  in  thoroughness 
of  instruction,  in  catholicity  of  spirit,  and  in  evangeli- 
cal influence  over  3-oung  men.  To  this  end  he  builded 
unceasingly  alongside  his  brethren  in  the  boards  of 
trustees  and  instruction.  I^etters  and  memoranda  that 
he  has  left  behind  show^  that  in  season  and  out  of  sea- 
son he  brought  the  seminary,  its  needs  and  its  pro- 
gress, to  the  attention  of  men  and  women.  East  and 
West,  whom  he  hoped  to  interest  in  its  welfare.  Let- 
ters not  a  few  were  written  to  young  men,  w^hose 
attention  was  attracted  or  hoped  to  be  drawn  to  the 
Christian  ministry.  While  in  Honolulu,  less  than  a 
year  before  his  death,  he  plead  for  the  foundation  of  an 
Hawaiian  scholarship,  by  means  of  which  natives  of 
the  Islands  might  receive  preparation  in  America  for  a 
ministry  among  their  own  people.  He  felt  that  the 
seminaries  in  the  United  States  have  a  mission  not 
onh"  along  the  w^estern  coast  of  America,  but  also 
among  the  islands  of  the  Pacific,  and  in  Japan  and 
China.  But  while  he  sought  gifts  for  the  institution 
from  others,  he  himself  withheld  not  his  own  offerings. 
He  gave  generously  while  living,  and  left  to  be  be- 
stowed after  his  death  one  thousand  dollars  as  a  per- 
manent fund  for  the  seminary  library. 

His  best  gift,  however,  was  himself.  The  strength 
of  his  intellect,  the  richness  of  his  culture,  the  clear- 
ness of  his  judgment,  his  experience,  his  influence 
among  men,  and  his  living  faith  in  God  were  always 


AN    INSTITUTION-BUILDER.  I47 

upon  the  altar,  ready  to  be  offered  in  behalf  of  the 
seminary.  While  recalling  gratefully  the  noble  ser- 
vices and  sacrifices  of  others  who  stood  side  by  side 
with  him  in  establishing  and  maintaining  the  Pacific 
Theological  Seminary,  one  cannot  fail  to  recognize  the 
great  influence  of  Dr.  Dwinell  in  the  organization  and 
subsequent  upbuilding  of  this  School  of  the  Prophets. 
It  was  fitting  that  he  who,  for  more  than  a  score  of 
years,  had  labored  /or  the  seminary,  should  be  found  at 
life's  close  laboring  within  its  walls.  He  built  not 
ovXy  for  young  men,  but  shared  with  others  in  build- 
ing them  up,  that  they  might  safely  be  set  for  the  de- 
fense of  the  gospel. 

The  Seminary  was  no  sooner  fairly  established  than 
the  Trustees  organized  a  boarding  and  day  school  for 
boj-s,  known  first  as  Golden  Gate  Academy,  and  later 
as  Hopkins  Academy.  This  school  shared  Dr.  Dwi- 
nell's  wise  counsels  and  earnest  prayers,  but,  for  the 
most  part,  its  interests  are  so  allied  to  those  of  the 
seminary,  that  much  of  what  has  already  been  said 
concerning  one  applies  to  both. 

For  three  years,  however,  from  1884  to  1887,  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Dwinell  lived  at  the  Academy,  their  daugh- 
ter Mrs.  Jewett,  with  her  family,  having  their  home 
there,  Mr.  Jewett  being  at  that  time  principal  of  the 
school . 

During  these  years  Dr.  Dwinell  was  brought  into 
close  and  pleasant  relations  to  the  young  men  and  boj^s. 
His  interest  in  them  frequenth'  manifested  itself.  He 
met  them  socially  and  in  their  meetings  for  prayer. 
He  addressed  them  from  time  to  time, — now  on  his 
travels,  or  some  other  subject  of  interest  to  them,  and 
again  with  tenderness  of  speech  exalting  in  their 
hearts  the    wisdom  and   love  of  the  Great   Teacher. 


148  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

Many  of  those  who  were  then  pupils  in  the  academy- 
have  spoken  or  written  most  appreciatively  of  the  good 
friend  who  went  in  and  out  among  them  during  those 
three  3'ears.  Thus  he  built  himself  into  the  lives  of 
3'oung  men,  and  planned  and  prayed  that  this  prepar- 
ator5^  school  might  be  a  nursery  of  strong  Christian 
character,  as  well  as  a  center  of  high  intellectual  train- 
ing. 

From  the  day  that  the  College  of  California,  a  Chris- 
tian institution,  was  surrendered  to  the  University  of 
California — a  State  institution  entirely  secular, — Dr. 
Dwinell  felt  that  the  work  of  founding  a  Christian  col- 
lege in  the  State  must  be  again  undertaken.  He 
greatly  deplored  and  regretted  the  loss  to  the  Christian 
community  of  the  vantage  ground  that  had  been  gained 
with  great  difficulty.  With  clear  vision  he  saw  that 
California  Congregationalists  would  suffer  immeas- 
urably without  a  college  of  high  rank,  that  should 
take  the  place  waiting  for  it  between  the  Christian 
Academy  and  the  Theological  Seminary.  More  than 
this,  he  felt  that  the  tendency  to  secularism,  to  mater- 
ialism, to  infidelity  in  other  forms,  was  destined  to  gain 
momentum  on  the  Pacific  coast,  unless  the  Christian 
church  used  every  means  in  its  power  to  withstand  the 
tendency.  He  felt  that  as  Christianity  has  been  the 
guiding  star  of  our  historic  civilization,  so  also  must  it 
be  here  and  elsewhere  its  moving  spirit.  "  What  we 
want  and  must  have,"  he  wrote,  "  to  save  the  State, 
is  all  the  agencies  and  forces  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ 
in  full,  broad  play  over  the  plains  and  among  the 
mountains.  This  Christian  influence,  penetrating  the 
homes,  the  schools,  the  places  of  business  ;  moulding 
the  character  of  the  young  and  the  old  ;  making  the 
people  kind  and  righteous  ;  lifting  them  up  in  charac- 
ter and  worth  and  wisdom — this  will  save  the  State." 


AX    INSTITUTION-BUILDER.  149 

With  such  convictions  burdening  him,  it  is  easily  to 
be  seen  why  he  insisted  that  the  chain  of  Christian  in- 
stitutions, within  the  denomination  to  which  he  be- 
longed, should  have  all  its  links. 

A  few  months  before  his  death  he  prepared  a  series 
of  propositions  on  a  Christian  College,  which  were  to 
be  presented,  in  behalf  of  a  committee  of  which  he  was 
chairman,  to  the  General  Association  of  California  at 
its  approaching  meeting.  He  did  not  live  to  present 
them,  but  the  paper  was  submitted  to  the  Association. 
It  was  the  last  time  he  was  represented  in  the  councils 
of  the  churches  of  California.  Being  dead  he  yet 
spoke,  pleading  that  one  more  institution  of  learning 
dedicated  to  Christ  and  His  Church  be  founded  by  Cal- 
ifornia Congregationalists.  The  propositions  referred 
to  are  as  follows  : 

A  Christian  College. 

"  I .  There  must  be  Christian  schools  of  the  collegi- 
ate rank,  to  furnish  leaders  of  Christian  thought  and 
Christian  enterprises.  If  Christianity  gives  up  the  edu- 
cational problem,  and  abandons  the  education  of  those 
who  are  to  be  its  leaders  and  defenders  to  institutions 
where  Christianity  is  ignored,  it  is  doomed.  It  must 
provide  the  highest  and  best  educational  helps,  where 
its  friends  can  drink  wisdom  from  the  very  fount  of 
God,  in  order  to  live. 

2.  Civilization,  as  well  as  Christianity,  demands 
the  Christian  college.  If  the  public  welfare  requires 
that  there  should  be  Christian  ministers,  editors,  teach- 
ers, and  managers  ©f  Christian  institutions  and  enter- 
prises, and  if  the  State  would  suffer  a  total  moral  col- 
lapse if  there  were  not  men  trained  to  occupy  these 
positions,  there  must  be  the  Christian  college  some- 
where to  furnish  them. 


150  ISRAtlv   KDSOX   DWINELL. 

3.  There  is  at  present  no  prospect  of  any  such  insti- 
tution to  meet  the  wants  of  our  Congregational  church- 
es in  all  the  northern  part  of  our  State  ;  yet  this  part 
of  the  State  is  as  large  as  all  of  New  England,  and 
contains  three-fourths  of  the  area  and  of  the  population 
of  the  whole  State,  and  more  than  three-fourths  of  its 
wealth. 

4.  The  higher  Christian  education  has  ever  been 
regarded  as  a  special  mission  of  Congregationalists. 
Elsewhere  one  of  their  first  enterprises  in  settling  a 
new  State  has  been  to  found  a  Christian  college.  They 
have  not  onh^  provided  for  their  own  wants,  but  fur- 
nished an  overplus  for  other  denominations  and  the 
good  of  the  State  at  large.  Yet  forty  years  have  elapsed, 
and  this  hereditary  privilege  and  honor  of  Congrega- 
tionalists still  lies  before  us  in  this  rich  and  teeming 
and  wealthy  land. 

5.  The  Christian  college  is  in  no  sense  antagonistic 
to  the  State  institutions.  It  helps  them  and  is  in  turn 
helped  by  them. 

6.  The  Congregational  college  is  in  its  whole  spirit 
and  genius  simply  Christian  ;  all  other  Christian  col- 
leges are  sectarian  in  comparison. 

7.  If  we  do  not  provide  for  Christian  education  in 
this  part  of  the  State,  other  denominations  will ;  and 
we  shall  be  dependent  on  them,  or  be  obliged  to  send 
our  sons  awaj^ ;  or  we  shall  abandon  the  desire  of  hav- 
ing any  leadership  in  raising  up  master-minds  for  com- 
ing generations. 

8.  The  critical  period  of  education  is  when  the  pu- 
pil is  passing  out  from  the  absorbing  age,  the  age  of 
receiving  instruction,  to  the  age  of  thinking  for  him- 
self, and  crystalizing  his  thoughts  around  his  own  per- 
sonality, and  becoming  the  master  of  himself.     That 


AN    INSTITUTION-BUILDER.  151 

is  the  time  when  he  needs  especially  to  be  under  the 
quickening  influences  of  the  Christian  college,  to  put 
him  safely  on  his  feet. 

9.  Experience  is  beginning  to  show  that  the  effect- 
iveness of  education  is  not  so  much  dependent  on  the 
number  of  elective  courses  offered  to  the  student,  as 
upon  the  personal  enthusiasm  centered  on  a  limited 
number  of  the  last  disciplinary  studies.  The  small  col- 
lege, with  its  concentration  and  magnetism,  has  often 
proved  more  than  a  match  for  the  large  college,  with 
its  platitudes  and  thinness  and  looseness. 

ID.  The  universitj'  idea  and  method,  aspired  after 
by  so  manj'  ambitious  colleges,  is  properly  lit  only  for 
those  who  have  passed  the  college  grade.  Thrust  for- 
ward and  down  from  its  proper  place  —  professional 
studies  and  the  higher  reaches  of  science  and  philoso- 
phy—  to  collegiate  studies,  it  is  out  of  place,  and  is 
weakening  and  distracting  to  the  highest  educational 
force. 

11.  It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  it  is  necessary 
that  a  large  sum  should  be  in  sight  to  justify  the  begin- 
ning of  a  Christian  college.  Very  few  of  the  333  Chris- 
tian colleges  in  the  United  States  began  in  that  waj-. 
They  began  poor,  and  struggled  on  through  many  3-ears 
of  poverty.  That  is  the  normal  waj-  for  a  Christian 
college  to  begin,  expanding  as  it  needs  expansion  and 
knows  how  to  expand.  In  this  way  fewer  mistakes 
are  made,  more  of  the  self-sacrificing  spirit  enters  it, 
and  it  stands  in  warmer  relation  to  the  churches. 

12.  Education  in  the  Christian  college  costs  the 
public,  the  founders,  less  than  education  in  the  State 
institutions.  Rev.  H.  D.  Jenkins  has  shown  in  the 
Interior  Xhzt  education  in  the  55  state  and  secular  insti- 
tutions of  the  highest  grade  in  the  United  States,  with 


152  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

their  10,824  students,  costs  the  public  $200  a  year  to 
educate  a  pupil ;  while  in  the  333  Christian  colleges, 
with  38,355  students,  it  costs  only  $90  a  year  each. 

13.  The  starting  of  a  college  in  an  earnest  and  de- 
termined way,  on  faith  and  self-sacrifice,  though  with 
a  small  beginning,  will  soon  become  a  center  of  sym- 
pathy and  effort  —  something  for  the  friends  of  Chris- 
tian education  to  work  around  and  towards.  There 
may  be  years  of  hard  struggle,  but  the  time  will  come 
when  wealthy  men  will  be  glad  to  give  their  hundreds 
of  thousands  to  it. 

14.  What  is  first  of  all  needed  is  the  conviction  that 
we  must  have  a  Christian  college,  and  then  throw  our- 
selves upon  our  wits  and  the  leadings  of  Providence  to 
find  out  the  best  way  to  secure  one. 

15.  If  $50,000  could  be  raised  to  put  a  first-class 
professor  in  Hopkins  Academy,  to  carry  students  for- 
ward in  collegiate  studies,  a  beginning  might  be 
made  to  meet  w^ants  that  already  exist.  As  the  want 
increased,  the  question  might  still  be  an  open  one, 
whether  to  build  up  the  college  on  the  basis  of  Hopkins 
Academy,  or  transfer  the  professorship  to  another  or- 
ganization, and  have  the  college  an  entireh'  separate 
institution." 

Many  of  these  propositions  read  like  axioms.  They 
need  no  demonstration,  the}"  admit  of  no  argument. 
Together  they  carry  great  weight,  and  without  doubt 
only  the  pressing  necessities  of  the  institutions  already 
founded  have  interfered  with  efforts  to  found  in  Central 
California  a  college  like  Pomona  and  Forest  Grove. 

Still  another  institution  of  learning  claimed  the 
counsels  of  Dr.  Dwinell.  When  the  founders  of  Mills 
Seminary  in  California  placed  that  prosperous  school 


AN    INSTITUTION-BUILDER.  1 53 

for  young  ladies  in  the  hands  of  a  permanent  Board  of 
Trustees,  Dr.  Dwinell,  upon  the  invitation  of  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Mills,  accepted  a  position  as  Trustee,  and  in  time 
became  the  second  President  of  the  Board. 

Later,  the  institution  received  a  charter  as  a  college 
for  young  women,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  Dr.  Dwi- 
nell was  Vice-President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

The  following  tributes  sufficiently  explain  his  rela- 
tion to  the  college,  and  his  labors  in  its  behalf: 

[Extract  from  a  sermon  preached  in  Mills  College  by  Rev. 
Geo.  Mooar,  D.D.,  from  the  text,  "I  have  no  man  like  minded 
who  will  naturally  care  for  your  state."] 

"  Is  it  any  wonder  that  a  man  so  full  in  his  endow- 
ment should  have  the  passion  for  taking  part  in  such 
institutions  as  this,  and  certain  rare  qualifications  for 
the  part  he  was  to  take  ?  That  part  was  not,  indeed, 
like  that  which  the  founders  of  this  institution  or  the 
great  donors  elsewhere  have  had.  It  was  the  part  of 
counsel,  of  careful  scrutiny,  of  helpful  suggestion, 
made  not  by  one  who  stood  outside  or  afar  off,  but  by 
one  who  had  so  identified  himself  with  the  work  be- 
gun and  in  progress  here  that  he  could  no  more  forget 
it  than  his  right  hand  could  forget  its  cunning.  And 
it  was  so  ordered  that  the  verj^  last  remains  of  bodily 
and  mental  strength  that  were  left  to  be  consumed  in 
any  public  service  were  consumed  on  this  spot,  offered 
up  indeed  on  this  very  platform.  For  he  went  imme- 
diately hence  to  learn  that  the  harp  of  a  thousand  strings 
could  keep  in  tune  no  longer. 

The  reason,  certainly  the  reason  above  all  others, 
why  he  came  to  be  so  identified  here,  was  that  he  was 
assured  that  these  grounds,  buildings  and  foundations 
II 


154  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINKLL. 

had  been  consecrated  to  the  Name  which  is  above 
every  name.  For  while  there  was  so  much  in  the  in- 
tellect of  Dr.  Dwinell  to  admire,  and  his  training  and 
acquirement  were  so  sympathetic  with  all  learning  as 
to  make  him  at  home  among  scientific  and  literary  men 
anywhere,  yet  the  most  admirable  thing  to  us  who 
knew  him  day  bj''  day  was  his  simple  but  most  thorough 
Christian  loyalty.  He  was  like-minded  with  Paul 
and  Timothy,  because  he  had  "  the  mind  which  was 
also  in  Christ  Jesus,"  and  which  is  so  wonderfully  set 
forth  in  a  passage  of  the  same  Philippian  Epistle. 
This  loyalty  was  one  of  conviction  and  of  consistency  ; 
it  penetrated  his  life  like  leaven,  and  had  been  in  life's 
discipline  kneaded  into  every  particle.  But  it  was 
adoration  also.  More  than  once  in  the  quiet  of  our 
morning  hour  of  prayer  at  the  seminary,  this  self- 
restrained  man  was  barely  able,  even  in  his  suppressed 
emotion,  to  finish  the  praise  and  petition  with  which 
his  soul  was  charged. 

Could  such  a  man  count  a  young  man  or  j^oung 
woman  in  any  highest  sense  educated,  even  though 
accomplished  in  the  sciences  and  the  arts,  if  the  heart 
and  mind  had  never  felt  the  power,  persuasion  and 
moulding  of  the  love  that  passeth  knowledge  ? ' ' 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  Mills  College,  the 
following  report  of  a  special  committee  was  adopted  : 

In  Memoriam. 

"  The  Trustees  of  Mills  College  hereby  place  on  record 
their  sense  of  the  loss  sustained  in  the  death  of  the  late 
Dr.  Israel  E.  Dwinell,  a  member  of  their  Board.  His 
decease  was  not  onh'  a  great  loss  to  this  institution. 


AN    INSTITUTION-BUILDER.  1 55 

but  having  by  his  eminent  attainments  as  a  scholar, 
divine  and  author  won  both  a  state  and  national  rep- 
utation, his  loss  was  also  recognized  in  this  wider  sense. 

Dr.  Dvvinell  had  devoted  the  maturer  years  of  his 
life  to  pastorates  in  Salem,  Mass.,  and  in  Sacramento, 
closing  his  active  and  useful  life  as  a  professor  in  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Oakland,  and  as  Vice-Presi- 
dent and  Chairman  of  the  Educational  Committee  of 
this  Board.  His  services  in  the  latter  office  were  ren- 
dered at  a  critical  time  in  the  history  of  the  institution. 

Dr.  Dwinell  was  a  wise  counselor  and  a  steadfast 
friend.  He  had  the  clearest  convictions  of  duty,  and 
he  followed  these  bravely  and  honestly,  uninfluenced 
by  clamor  or  unfriendly  criticism.  He  had  that  clear 
discernment  and  sharp  spiritual  insight — the  clarified 
vision — that  seemed  to  fulfill  the  Scripture  declaration 
that  the  path  of  the  just  shall  be  brighter  and  brighter 
unto  the  perfect  day. 

Dr.  Dwauell  gave  freely  his  time  and  energies  to 
this  college.  His  last  public  service  was  rendered  in 
its  behalf.  He  had  carefully  taken  account  of  its 
larger  field  of  usefulness,  and  its  great  opportunities. 
To  him  the  institution  had  become  of  far  greater  im- 
portance than  any  individual  interest.  He  appreciated 
the  munificent  gift  w^hich  had  been  made  by  the  found- 
ers to  the  public.  He  stood  in  the  relation  of  a  foster 
parent,  and  to  the  last  he  cherished  this  child  of  his 
love  as  the  apple  of  his  eye.  He  w^atched  over  its  in- 
terests. His  sense  of  the  trust  was  uppermost.  He 
would  not  consent  that  caprice,  hypocrisy,  or  any  want 
of  moral  fibre  should  stand  in  the  way  of  its  prosper- 
ity. He  was  faithful  unto  the  end.  He  was  every- 
where   the    Christian    gentleman,    the   accomplished 


156  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

scholar,  and  the  steadfast  friend  of  all  who  had  won 
his  confidence. 

He  has  gone  before,  but  there  is  left  to  us  that  mem- 
ory of  his  unselfish  work,  and  the  grace  and  beauty  of 
a  noble  life. 

Wm.  C.  Bartlett, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee." 


CHAPTER   XV. 

A    CHRISTIAN    LEADER. 

For  many  years  Dr.  Uwinell  was  a  corporate  mem- 
ber of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  For- 
eign Missions.  Throughout  his  ministry  he  was  a 
generous  contributor  to  its  treasury.  Unceasingly  he 
sought  to  raise  the  standard  of  benevolent  giving  in  his 
congregation,  and  by  "  monthly  concerts  "  of  prayer, 
by  frequent  sermons,  and  by  the  distribution  of  mis- 
sionary literature,  he  sought  to  arouse  interest  in  the 
work  of  the  American  Board.  Whenever  possible  he 
attended  its  annual  meetings,  and  was  prominent  in 
its  discussions. 

He  came  to  the  defense  of  the  Prudential  Committee 
in  the  controversy  introduced  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Board  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  in  i8S6,  not  because  he 
deprecated  investigation  and  discussion  of  doctrines 
and  of  methods,  but  because  he  felt  that  the  issue 
pressed  at  Ues  Moines  and  subsequently  was  ' '  in  the 
interest  of  a  policy  that  is  absolutely  revolutionary," 
It  was  not  that  a  questionable  doctrine  was  broached, 
but  that  he  felt  it  was  being  "  diligently  propagated," 
to  the  injury  of  the  cause  of  Missions.  "  The  Ameri- 
can Board,"  he  felt,  "was  founded,  among  other 
things,  on  the  belief  that  probation  is  limited  to  this 
life.  *  *  The  Apostle  Paul  preached  a  gospel  that 
was  good  news  for  sinners  in  this  life.  All  the  other 
Apostles  and  primitive  disciples,  so  far  as  we  have  any 


158  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

intimation,  preached  a  gospel  that  was  good  news  for 
sinners  in  this  world.  *  *  *  The  Prudential  Com- 
mittee will  do  well  to  wait  for  further  instructions  be- 
fore it  becomes  a  party  to  sending  out  one  who,  though 
he  comes  in  the  guise  of  an  apostle  or  an  angel  from 
heaven,  preaches  any  other  gospel  than  that  which 
Christ  and  the  apostles  preached." 

This  was  his  position.  The  hypothesis  of  probation 
after  death  would  have  arrested  his  attention,  and 
might  have  arrayed  against  it  his  powerful  pen,  under 
any  circumstances  ;  but  his  active  participation  in  a 
controversy  that  for  several  years  threatened  the  unity 
of  the  Congregational  denomination  was  brought 
about  through  the  attitude  of  the  "  New  Departure  " 
movement  toward  the  American  Board. 

This  movement  in  all  its  relations  deeply  interested 
and  pained  Dr.  Dwinell.  Although  far  removed,  geo- 
graphically, from  Andover  and  Boston,  he  quickly 
stood  in  the  foremost  rank  of  those  who  controverted 
the  Andover  hypothesis.  By  voice  in  meetings  of  the 
American  Board,  and  by  pen  in  the  religious  press,  he 
maintained  the  historical  position  of  the  Congregation- 
al churches,  as  expressed  b}-  their  confessions  of  faith, 
or  implied,  as  he  believed,  by  their  silence, — that  the 
judgment  turns  upon  the  deeds  done  in  the  body. 

In  The  Independent,  TJie  Advance  zxlA  The  Pacific  \ie. 
presented  his  views  on  the  subject  at  issue,  with  a 
strength  of  argument  that,  by  many,  was  regarded  as 
unanswerable.  Especially  vigorous  and  effective  were 
several  articles  in  The  Independent,  entitled,  "Side 
Lights  on  Questions  under  Discussion."  In  one  of 
these  is  a  passage  that  may  be  taken  as  representing 
his  idea  of  true  Conservatism  : — "  Progress  is  only 
such  movement  as  is  along  the  line  of  TrntJi.     The 


A    CHRISTIAN    LEADER.  1 59 

cause  which  is  the  subject  of  this  progress  is,  at  every 
point  of  that  line,  in  a  state  of  unstable  equilibrium, 
having  elements  in  it  which  mighty  forces  from  be- 
neath fasten  on  and  tug  at  to  draw^  it  on,  at  first 
apparently  forward,  bat  really  down,  down,  toward 
perdition,  and  elements  which  celestial  forces,  finer, 
more  spiritual,  more  divine,  fasten  on  to  draw  it  upward. 
It  is  only  by  eternal  vigilance  and  self-sacrifice  by  the 
friends  of  Truth,  at  all  these  points,  that  the  forces 
from  beneath,  which  have  Progress  for  their  watchword, 
are  resisted,  and  the  celestial  forces,  which  lead  to  real 
Progress,  followed.  The  great  progress  which  theol- 
ogy has  made  during  the  last  century  and  a  half  it  has 
made  by  a  mighty  resistance,  at  a  thousand  points,  to 
tendencies  and  drifts  which  were  pulling  it  in  the 
direction  of  error,  and  which  were  heralded  by  their 
advocates  as  measures  of  Progress.     *     *     * 

"How  presumptuous,  how  fatal,  in  the  face  of  the 
facts  of  histor}',  to  assume  that  mere  stepping  onward  is 
a  movement  in  the  direction  of  the  day  ! 

"  Holding  to  the  Truth,  even  at  a  snail's  pace,  with 
the  eye  fixed  on  it  and  the  face  beaming  with  it,  not 
mere  stepping,  stepping,  stepping  onward,  no  matter 
how  rapidly  or  grandly,  in  an  unknown  direction,  is 
the  one  divine  and  eternal  mark  of  the  party  of  pro- 
gress. To  find  the  progressive  party,  then,  we  must 
look  for  those  who  meet  the  tests  of  truth.  These,  we 
Congregationalists,  by  all  our  traditions  and  genius, 
believe  we  find  in  God's  Word.  They  who  hold  to  the 
light  and  to  the  tests  issuing  from  that,  are  the  ones 
who  are  headed  toward  the  Coining  Day. ' ' 

Dr.  Dwinell's  motives  in  entering  into  such  a  con- 
troversy as  is  referred  to  above  are  truthfully  expressed 
in  an  editorial  in  77ie  Pacific,  written  by  bis  friend  and 


l6o  ISRAEL    EDSOX    DWINELL. 

colaborer,  Rev.  Dr.  Benton.  "He  would  stand  for 
nothing  except  in  conscience.  He  must  regard  him- 
self as  ethicall}'  right,  or  he  would  not  move  at  all  ; 
and  when  he  felt  that  the  right  was  with  himself  he 
would  not  be  JuovedzX  all.  In  the  recent  conflicts  that 
have  disturbed  the  American  Board,  for  instance,  as  a 
Corporate  Member,  the  conservative  side  seemed  to 
him  gigantically^  the  side  of  honor,  right  and  righteous- 
ness, and  his  whole  nature  poured  itself  into  pen,  speech 
and  action  for  that  side  of  the  conflict,  and  for  the 
success  of  the  Board  in  the  line  of  its  antecedents." 

In  other  directions  Dr.  Dwinell  was  prominent  as 
a  Christian  leader.  An  early  advocate  of  the  National 
Council  of  Congregational  Chiirches,  he  took  part  in 
those  held  in  Oberlin  in  1871,  in  New  Haven  in  1874, 
and  in  Worcester  in  1889.  At  New  Haven  he  was  an 
Assistant  Moderator.  At  Worcester  he  preached  the 
opening  sermon. 

His  text  was  from  Isaiah  55:4;  "  Behold,  I  have 
given  him  for  a  witness  to  the  peoples,  a  leader  and 
commander  to  the  peoples."  His  subject  was  "  Christ 
ajiiong  the   Peoples.'' 

In  this  sermon,  speaking  of  the  part  the  denomina- 
tion to  which  he  belonged  has  in  Christian  work  for 
the  countr}^  and  the  world,  he  sa3-s  : —  "It  certain!}' 
will  not  be  bj^  our  numbers  or  ecclesiastical  importance 
that  we  shall  act  a  prominent  part  in  that  bright 
future,  but  by  our  ideas,  principles,  spirit — the  Christ 
in  us.  Palestine  was  an  insignificant  territor)^,  Aet  it 
gave  religion  to  the  world  ;  Greece,  but  a  patch  of  soil, 
3'et  it  developed  ideas  of  grace  and  beauty  for  the  race. 
It  is  not  size  that  determines  leadership. 

"  Our  influence  in  the  kingdom  of  God  has  already 
far  outreached  our  numbers.     We  have  put  not  a  little 


A    CHRISTIAN-    LEADER.  l6l 

life  into  other  denominations,  not  only  bj-  scions 
grafted  in  them,  but  by  radiation  and  dififusion  of  spir- 
it. The  Congregational  genius — orderl}^  libert}-  and 
willing  harmony,  or  freedom  and  unity — has  invaded 
and  tinged  all  the  other  bodies  of  Christians  in  the 
land.  The  Congregational  spirit  is  a  sun  among  the 
polities  ;  and  whether  seen  on  its  daily  rounds,  at  its 
rising  above  Plymouth  Rock,  or  glittering  from  the 
lakes  in  meridian  splendor,  or  as  it  goes  out  at  the 
Golden  Gate  for  the  Islands  and  Japan,  on  its  way 
round  the  earth,  it  is  everywhere  the  same  sun.  Its 
influence  belts  the  globe.  Christ  is  Congregational- 
izing  the  denominations,  and  cardinals,  bishops,  as.sera- 
blies,  conferences  are  gradually  yielding  before  the 
omnipresent,  gigantic,  conscious  laj'-awakening  it 
fosters.  The  Evangelical  Alliance,  the  Pan-Presbj-ter- 
ian  Councils,  the  conventions  in  the  interest  of  Chris- 
tian and  ecclesiastical  union,  are  monuments  Congre- 
gationalwise — possibly  forecast  gleams  of  something 
larger,  richer,  diviner  hereafter.  Every  one  sees  the 
tendency,  every  one  knows  it,  though  every  one  ma}^ 
not  give  due  credit  to  the  historical  source.     *     *     * 

"  So  much  we  have  now  to  give  [autonomy  of  the  in- 
dividual ecclesiastical  systems  and  the  principle  of  fel- 
lowship]. Whatever  more  we  shall  be  able  to  give 
will  depend  on  how  much  more  of  Christ  we  shall  have 
centered  and  compacted  in  us  to  give  Henceforth, 
church  organization,  to  be  .successful,  must  be  around 
Christ.  The  church  of  the  future  can  have  no  other 
center." 

This  sermon,  entire,  is  printed  with  the  Minutes  of 
the  National  Council  of  1889. 

Dr.  Dwinell  was  one  of  the  Committee  on  Creden- 
tials which    had   before    it,  at  Worcester,   the    vexed 


1 62  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

question  of  the  reception  of  delegates  from  the  General 
Conference  (white)  of  Georgia,  which  had  not  hitherto 
affiliated  with  the  General  Association  (colored)  that 
had  been  recognized  already  by  the  Council. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  Dr.  Dwinell  was  a  delegate 
to  the  International  Congregational  Conference  held 
subsequent  to  his  death  in  London,  and  had  been 
selected  to  present  a  paper  before  that  body. 

In  1887  Dr.  Dwinell  was  called  to  occupy  a  chair  in 
one  of  the  leading  Theological  Seminaries  of  New 
England.  The  vacancy,  temporary,  was  likely  to  re- 
sult, and  did  result,  in  a  permanent  opening,  which  on 
many  accounts  it  would  have  been  a  great  satisfaction 
to  Dr.  Dwinell  to  fill.  For  several  weeks  he  weighed 
the  question  carefully,  but  finally  his  love  for  Pacific 
Seminar}-,  and  his  regard  for  the  necessities  of  the 
work  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  led  him  to  decline  the  very 
flattering  invitation  from  the  East,  although  the  chair 
he  filled  in  Oakland  was  still  unendowed,  and  the  In- 
stitution was,  as  yet,  unable  to  offer  its  Faculty  of 
instruction  adequate  compensation  for  their  services. 

Among  the  reasons  for  declining  the  invitation,  as 
recorded  in  his  diary,  are  disappointment  to  the  stu- 
dents at  Oakland,  and  temporary  injury  to  the  Sem- 
inary. 

Thus  in  State  and  Nation,  and  beyond  the  seas,  he 
was  called  to  high  and  honorable  service,  and  was  rec- 
ognized as  a  Christian  leader,  whom  Robert  Browning 
might  have  had  in  mind  when  he  wrote  : 

"  One  who  never  turned  his  back,  but  marched  breast  forward. 
Never  doubted  clouds  would  break. 

Never  dreamed,  though  right  were  worsted,   w^rong  would 
triumph." 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

TRAVELS    ABROAD. 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  pastorate  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Dwinell  removed  temporarily  to  Redwood,  spending 
several  months  at  the  home  of  their  daughter,  Mrs. 
Wilcox. 

Freed  from  pastoral  care.  Dr.  Dwinell  kept  up  his 
studious  habits,  writing  much  and  reading  more,  yet 
enjoying  much  during  the  passing  months  the  home 
life,  the  church  services,  and  strolls  and  drives  in  the 
beautiful  valley. 

In  January  following,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Dwi- 
nell, he  left  California  for  a  visit  to  Europe  and  the 
Orient. 

Going  East  via  New  Orleans  and  Nashville,  where 
they  made  a  brief  visit  with  Mrs.  Dwinell's  brother-in- 
law,  Mr.  Joseph  Allen,  to  whom  Dr.  Dwinell  makes 
reference  in  his  account  of  his  wedding,  they  proceeded 
to  New  York,  whence  they  sailed  for  Liverpool. 

In  accordance  with  an  understanding  previously 
reached,  they  hurried  on  to  Jerusalem,  in  order  to 
overtake  and  thereafter  accompany  Dr.  and  Mrs.  C.  L- 
Goodell  in  their  travels  through  the  Orient. 

Their  journey  included  Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land, 
Smyrna,  Constantinople,  Athens,  Italy,  Switzerland, 
France,  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  They  were  absent 
from  home  about  seven  months. 

It  was  a  period  of  rare  enjoj^ment  and  profit  to  the 


164  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

travelers.  Dr.  Dwinell — always  observant,  not  of 
places  onl}^  but  also  of  peoples,  their  social,  industrial, 
and  religious  condition — while  absent  wrote  two  series 
of  letters  to  the  press  in  San  Francisco,  twenty  in  all. 
Of  these,  twelve  appeared  in  the  Evening  Bulletin,  and 
eight  in  The  Pacific. 

His  review  of  the  characteristics  of  the  chief  cities 
which  he  visited  is  given  in  the  twelfth  and  last  of  the 
letters  to  the  Bulletin.  It  is  original  and  poetical  in  all 
its  descriptions,  and  is  reproduced  here  as  it  reveals  a 
style  full  of  imagery  not  often  found  in  his  more 
weighty  writings.     It  is  as  follows  : 

' '  Why  the   Paintings  op  the   Great  Masters 
^   Survive.     Characteristics  of  Foreign 

Cities. 

New  York,  Aug.  i,  1884. 

From  Naples  we  made  a  tour  through  Central  and 
Northern  Italy,  France  and  Great  Britain,  stopping  at 
man}'  of  the  important  and  historical  and  artistic  cen- 
ters, seeing  the  sights.  This  brings  me  more  within 
the  range  of  your  other  correspondents,  and  of  things 
more  familiar  to  your  readers.  Besides,  we  were 
more  interested  in  visiting  the  museums  and  galleries 
of  art,  and  I  confess  my  incompetency  to  enter  this 
vast  realm,  and  give  any  detailed,  independent  accounts 
to  your  readers.  I  shall  content  myself  with  a  general 
observation  on  works  of  art,  and  a  rapid  characteriza- 
tion of  the  cities  we  have  visited,  making  to  them  the 
goodly  salaam. 

I  have  been  everywhere  struck  with  this  fact,  that 
the  works  of  the  great  masters,  which  have  been  rec- 
ognized by  the   ages  as   having  supreme  merit,   and 


TRAVELS    ABROAD.  I 65 

which  are  held  up  as  the  world's  master-pieces,  are 
marked  b}^  great  simplicity,  and  an  entire  absence  of 
the  sensational  or  appeals  to  foreign  grounds  of  inter- 
est. The  artist  throws  away  everything  that  does  not 
help  bring  out  the  ideal  conception.  He  thinks  more 
of  expression,  soul,  character,  than  of  striking  attitudes, 
drapery,  circumstances  ;  though  these  things  are  care- 
fully thought  of,  subordinated  and  harmonized  to  the 
leading  idea,  not  to  attract  attention  to  themselves. 
So  simple  are  the  great  works,  and  so  little  that  is 
meretricious  is  there  about  them,  that  at  first  one  is 
likely  to  feel  a  little  disappointment  in  seeing  them  ; 
and  not  till  he  ceases  to  expect  the  striking,  and  is  in 
a  good  mood  to  rise  calmly  and  collectedly  to  the  ideal 
world,  can  he  see  and  feel  their  supreme  worth.  The 
sensationalist  dies  ;  the  true  artist  who  despises  the 
cheap  applause  of  the  day,  arising  from  sensational 
appeals,  lives,  and  after  generations  pronounce  him 
great.  Does  not  the  same  principle  apply  in  other  de- 
partments— in  poetry,  in  oratory,  in  character,  in  a 
useful  life  ?  If  Praxitiles,  Phidias,  Raphael,  Michael 
Angelo,  Titian,  Canova,  Thorwalsden,  must  subordi- 
nate the  sensational  to  the  ideal,  the  striking  to  the 
true,  must  not  the  orator  do  it,  and  the  preacher,  and 
that  greater  artist  who  is  engaged  in  shaping  his  own 
self-hood  or  living  a  good  life  among  men  ? 

Individuality  of  Great  Cities. 

Having  traveled  and  visited  many  cities,  I  find,  as 
I  look  back  over  them,  that  each  stands  out  with  an 
individuality  of  its  own.  Something  in  its  situation, 
its  conduct,  its  population,  its  appearance,  casts  over 
it  a  distinctive  color,  in  which  it  spontaneously  rises 


1 66  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

before  lU}^  imagination.  It  is  interesting  to  me  to  look 
back  over  the  statel}^  arraj',  and  see  them  as  a  proces- 
sion of  fair  women,  arrayed  in  these  fresh  and  charac- 
teristic colors.  These  distinctive  colors  are  not  ex- 
haustive. They  do  not  exclude  other  tints  ;  they  are 
not  so  pronounced  that  other  persons  might  not  see 
and  designate  them  differently  ;  but  they  are  there,  and 
I  will  give  those  of  some  of  the  most  prominent  of  the 
cities. 

Alexandria  sits  demurely  by  the  sea,  an  oriental 
maiden  attracted  to  the  sandy  shore  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean, to  barter  her  spices,  silks,  mats,  with  the  in- 
fidel, concluding  to  remain  there  and  wander  no  more. 

Jaffa  lifts  up  her  head  from  a  rocky  cliff,  and  with 
one  hand  salutes  the  Mediterranean,  and  with  the  other 
welcomes  the  caravans  from  Damascus  and  Jerusalem. 

Jerusalem  is  still  the  child  of  faith,  dwelling  where 
little  grows,  where  there  is  naturally  little  trade  or  com- 
merce, or  manufacturing  ;  drawing  her  supplies  mys- 
teriousl}^  from  the  rocks  and  skies  ;  yet  different  races, 
different  religions,  different  civilizations  believe  in  her 
and  huddle  together  about  her,  awaiting  something 
that  does  not  appear. 

Jerusalem,  sitting  alone  on  the  rocky  mountain  side 
of  Judea,  is  the  sublime  child  of  faith,  coming  of  faith 
in  the  past,  looking  forward  to  the  future  by  faith. 

Damascus  is  the  fair  Naiad  issuing  from  the  Abana 
or  Baroda,  mysteriously  changing  its  musical  waters 
into  olive  groves,  tropical  luxuriance  and  a  teeming 
population,  and  sitting  in  queenly  robes,  with  her  feet 
in  the  sands  of  the  desert  of  the  Hauran,  amidst 
mosques  and  minarets  and  robed  men,  smoking  the 
nargileh  on  divans,  or  by  playing  fountains  and  cool- 
ing streams. 


TRAVELS    ABROAD.  1 67 

Beirut,  standing  proudly  on  a  peninsula-shaped 
headland  on  one  side  of  a  beautiful  crescent  bay,  is  the 
commercial  or  moral  mistress  of  SN^ria,  sending  the 
currents  of  life  up  the  French  highwa}"  to  Damascus, 
as  the  heart  sends  the  blood  through  the  arteries  to  the 
head. 

Smyrna  is  the  mistress  of  two  ages  and  civiliza- 
tions, reposing  on  a  quiet  plateau  by  the  sea,  welcom- 
ing the  commerce  of  the  West,  guarding  the  grave  of 
Polycarp,  and   the    manners  and    forms   of  the  East. 

Constantinople,  at  a  distance,  is  the  sightliest  of  the 
cities,  but  on  approaching  near  j^ou  see  .she  wears  a 
mask,  and  behind  that  mask  you  perceive  restlessness, 
discontent,  perfidy,  and  sullen  waiting  for  revolution 
or  chaos. 

Athens  is  the  bride  of  the  cities.  She  holds  in 
one  hand  a  broken  marble,  pointing  to  the  ruins  of  her 
art  in  the  heroic  ages — the  art  which  has  conquered 
the  world — and  in  the  other,  the  scepter  of  new  spring- 
ing power. 

Naples,  as  we  approach  it  by  steamer  from  the 
South  and  around  the  point,  rises  up  out  of  the  sea  as 
a  charming,  timid  apparition,  shrinking  awa}-  from 
Vesuvius,  who  holds  a  smoking  firebrand  in  one  hand 
shaking  it  over  her  head,  and  yet  afraid  to  go  in  the 
other  direction,  as  he  thrusts  his  other  hand  into  his 
subterranean  pocket,  touching  secret  springs  that  let 
off  convulsions  in  Ischia  and  the  regions  be^^ond  her. 

Rome,  the  attractive,  the  interesting,  the  historic, 
the  hider  and  revealer  of  the  secrets  of  her  mother,  the 
"  Mistress  of  the  World,"  sitting  in  a  royal  way  on 
her  seven  hills,  full  as  she  is  of  art  and  history,  is 
nothing  else  in  form  so  much  as  she  is  a  saint.  She  is 
the  high  priestess  in  her  tent  of  the  cities  of  the  earth. 


1 68  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

Religion  is  scrolled  upon  her  buildings  outside  and  in- 
side, on  her  streets,  on  her  calendar,  on  her  garments, 
on  her  food  and  manners.  I  do  not  know  how  far  this 
sainthood  strikes  in,  or  what  it  is  worth.  I  speak  only 
of  color. 

Florence,  one  of  the  queens,  reposes  half  asleep, 
half  awake,  in  a  beautiful  cradle  of  the  Appenines, 
dreaming  over  the  splendors  of  the  past,  displaying 
still  a  matchless  profusion  of  art  treasures,  and  beguil- 
ing those  who  come  under  the  influence  of  her  charms 
through  labyrinths  of  plastic  and  painted  beauty. 

Venice,  the  daughter  of  commerce,  sits  wdth  her 
feet  in  the  Adriatic,  snuffing  the  breezes  of  the  sea, 
browaied  and  weather-beaten,  and  her  white  robes 
soiled,  as  she  has  toyed  with  the  gondoliers  and  water- 
sprites  so  long. 

Paris  is  the  city  of  sentiment.  Not  so  much  ideas 
or  principles,  or  even  prudence  or  polic}^  as  sentiment 
reigns.  The  inspiration  of  her  patriotism  is  the  love 
of  glory  ;  of  her  letters  and  her  arts,  the  desire  t,o 
gratify  artificial  demands  and  tastes,  rather  than  to 
portray  ideal  truth,  or  to  exalt  humanity  ;  of  her  efforts 
in  dress  and  manners,  to  create  and  maintain  a  blind, 
imperial  goddess,  Fashion,  and  compel  others  to  wor- 
ship at  her  shrine.  Sentiment  is  the  height  and  depth, 
length  and  breadth  of  the  popular  feeling.  It  is  curi- 
ous to  note  that  painters  and  sculptors  in  Paris  do  not 
rely  on  the  expression  of  soul,  of  character  in  their 
works,  so  much  as  on  extrinsic  circumstances,  sensa- 
tional attitudes,  combinations,  adjuncts.  If  you  see  a 
statue  of  liberty  on  a  column  in  a  public  square,  she  is 
represented  as  standing  on  tiptoe  on  one  foot,  throw- 
ing the  other  far  up  in  the  air  behind,  leaning  far  for- 
ward with  a  flaming  torch  in  her  hand,  and  her  wings 


TRAVELS    ABROAD.  1 69 

spread,  as  if  eager  to  leave  the  spot  and  fly  away  to 
the  ends  of  the  earth  ;  while  3^our  whole  thought  is  ab- 
sorbed in  the  figure,  and  you  have  no  interest  in  the 
face.  You  see  no  character,  no  truth,  no  ideal.  You 
have  a  sensational  display.  Yet  Paris,  in  her  clean 
robes,  is  attractive  and  beautiful. 

London  is  the  irreducible  mystery.  I  have  been  in 
it  longer  than  in  any  other  foreign  city,  traversed  it 
more  in  all  directions  and  all  ways,  and  it  is  a  mystery 
to  me  still.  Its  "streets,"  "roads,"  "  rows,"  "  plac- 
es," "courts,"  "squares," — all  these  terms  being 
used  in  different  places  with  a  constancy  of  application 
and  an  apparent  absence  of  any  reason  for  it,  in  many 
cases  quite  wonderful — run  in  all  directions,  having 
neither  plan  nor  system.  The}-  are  straight,  crooked, 
curved  ;  they  have  outlets  ;  they  have  none  ;  the}'  are 
intercepted  by  gates,  bars,  and  posts.  Some  are  open 
for  foot  passengers  onl}^  some  for  pleasure  carriages, 
not  for  cabs  ;  some  for  all  these  and  not  for  trucks  ; 
and  a  personal  knowledge  of  each  is  necessary  to  know 
which.  The  city  has  grown, — it  has  not  been  built. 
It  reminds  me  of  the  devil-fish,  a  good-natured  devil- 
fish, a  devil-fish  with  the  devil  left  out.  It  began  b}^  a 
small  fortress  on  the  eminence  now  known  as  Ludgate 
or  Tower  Hill,  q.2X\q.A  Llyn-dun  or  "Hill  Fortress  by 
the  Pool."  It  was  soon  surrounded  in  the  region  by 
many  hamlets  and  villages,  each  with  its  own  arrange- 
ment of  streets,  and  with  peculiar  exclusive  rights  of 
some  of  its  citizens  in  the  ownership  of  land  and  other 
properties..  Now  it  was  its  nature  to  grow  indefinitely, 
and,  as  it  grew,  it  stretched  out  its  arms,  and  drew  it- 
self around  first  one  and  then  another  of  these  towns, 
not  to  devour  and  absorb  them,  not  to  crush  them,  or 
destroy  their  peculiar  local  individuality  and  autonomy, 
12 


l-JO  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

but,  on  the  contrary,  to  introduce  its  own  vitality,  re- 
sources and  power  into  it.  London,  consequently,  is 
the  combination  of  hundreds  of  separate  villages,  with 
all  their  original  streets  having  their  first  names,  vest- 
ed rights  and  peculiarities  intact.  London  first  lost 
itself  in  them,  and  then  they  lost  themselves  in  London. 
Hence,  as  you  travel  over  it,  j^ou  find  hundreds  of  sep- 
arate commercial  centers,  manufacturhag  centers,  edu- 
cational centers,  literary  and  artistic  centers,  and  elee- 
mosynary and  governmental  centers.  There  is  nothing 
elsewhere  like  it  in  the  world.  Like  the  English  po- 
litical constitution,  it  has  grown,  and  not  been  made. 

Here,  also,  is  the  secret  of  its  strength,  and  of  the  vi- 
tality of  the  articulation  of  its  parts  ;  of  the  wonder  that 
four  and  a  half  millions  of  people — more  than  the  pop- 
ulation of  all  Scotland— can  live  together  in  peace  and 
harmony  under  one  roof,  while  no  one  mind  or  govern- 
ment grasps  the  situation,  or  looks  upon  more  than  one 
side  of  the  civil  mystery,  the  side  nearest  it.  A  bill  is 
now  before  Parliament  for  the  formation  of  one  cen- 
tralized government  over  the  whole  city,  but  it  is  doubt- 
ful whether  as  much  may  not  be  lost  in  the  want  of 
flexibilit}"  and  adaptation  of  such  a  system,  as  maj-  be 
gained  in  overcoming  the  present  want  of  unity  and 
■questions  of  conflicting  jurisdiction  ;  while  the  amount 
of  local  responsibility  and  interest  for  the  management 
of  municipal  afi'airs  would  be  very  much  diminished. 

Liverpool  is  the  child  of  the  modern  era,  of  the  new 
civilization,  the  civilization  of  cotton  and  commerce, 
manufacturing  and  money  making.  For  the  past  one 
hundred  and  twenty  years  it  has  regularly  doubled  its 
population,  and  its  wealth  every  twentj"  j-ears.  It  is 
England  looking  out  to  America  and  the  world  ;  it  is 
American  in   its  spirit   and  genius,   looking  in  upon 


TRAVELS    ABROAD.  171 

England,  and  astonishing  it  with  its  activity  and  enter- 
prise. 

Edinburgh,  the  gaily  attired  daughter  of  the  North, 
has  charms  that  none  of  her  sisters  have.  In  situation, 
she  is  of  the  type  of  the  highlands.  Architecturally, 
though  itsing  stone  exclusively,  she  has  overcome  its 
difficulties,  and  arrayed  herself  most  picturesquel3^ 
Her  airy  gables,  dormer  windows,  turrets  and  high 
cylinder  chimneys,  together  with  the  intermingling  of 
buildings  of  various  forms  and  sizes,  breaking  the  mo- 
notony of  blocks  and  streets,  and  bringing  out  striking 
reliefs  and  effects,  produce  a  general  appearance,  as 
one  glances  over  its  wide  stretches  of  buildings,  of  one 
vast  interconnected  Gothic  pile.  Doubtless,  the  archi- 
tecture of  separate  buildings  looked  at  in  detail  would 
be  quite  open  to  criticism  on  the  basis  of  any  one  clas- 
sic standard  ;  but  in  general  effect,  when  one  is  not 
hypercritical,  and  is  ready  to  be  pleased  with  what  is 
picturesque  and  attractive  in  combination,  Edinburgh 
is  a  beautiful  city.  The  separate  leaves  of  a  tree  may 
not  be  beautiful,  the  individual  limbs  may  not  be  at- 
tractive, the  single  tree  may  be  open  to  criticism,  but 
the  combination  of  leaves,  limbs  and  trees  in  a  forest, 
when  viewed  at  a  distance,  is  nearly  always  beautiful. 
Critics,  who  carry  the  eye  of  a  Ruskin  to  each  building 
and  each  part  of  the  building,  may  criticise  Edinburgh 
and  go  into  raptures  over  Venice  ;  but  an  eye  that  con- 
templates the  effect  of  combination  will  pronounce 
Edinburgh  a  beautiful  city,  in  comparison  with  the 
monotonous  streets  of  A'enice. 

Glasgow,  as  a  city  of  residences,  a  seat  of  thought 
and  architectural  beauty,  is  far  inferior  to  Edinburgh, 
but  as  a  commercial  center  it  is  far  superior.  It  is  in 
Scotland  what  Liverpool  is  in  England.   It  is  the  head 


172  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

of  Scotland  in  the  realm  of  the  furnace,  the  loom  and 
the  counting-room. 

Belfast  is  the  sprightly  Irish  linen  girl.  She  spins, 
weaves,  embroiders,  bleaches,  displays  the  most  snowy 
and  delicate  fabrics.  While  her  sisters  in  the  south  of 
the  Green  Isles  are  dejected,  apprehensive,  pallid,  she 
is  confident  and  joyous.  In  spite  of  the  tariff  laws  she 
wraps  her  snowy  tissues  around  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  America,  and  multiplies  her  wealth  and  enlarges  her 
borders.  Long  may  the  Irish  linen  girl,  the  last  of  my 
foreign  city  acquaintances,  live  and  thrive,  a  bright 
witness  to.  wailing,  hysterical,  desperate  Ireland  that 
industry,  temperance  and  the  disposition  to  make  the 
best  of  things  may  lead  even  them  to  contentment, 
civil  order  and  prosperity. 

The  following  letter  is  the  last  of  a  series  of  eight 
that  were  published  in  The  Pacific,  of  San  Francisco. 

Missions  in  Turkey. 

Constantinople  is  a  live  Protestant  missionary  center. 
Like  Beirut,  its  influence  in  this  respect  is  felt  far  and 
wide.  But  the  intensity  of  the  missionary  life  is  far 
less  visible  in  Constantinople  than  in  Beirut.  In  Beirut 
the  strong  men  of  the  mission  have  been  kept  close 
together  in  a  much  smaller  city,  populated  by  fewer 
nationalities,  having  but  one  ruling  language,  the 
Arabic,  in  which  all  the  missionary  operations  can  be 
carried  on,  with  no  great  natural  barrier  obstructing 
the  subtle,  diffusive  influence  of  Christianity  running 
through  the  community,  and  dividing  into  separate 
and  mutually  repulsive  groups.  The  result  is,  that 
after  sixty  years  of  strong,  concentrated,  patient  work. 


TRAVELS    ABROAD.  1 73 

Beirut  is  a  conspicuous,  throbbing  center  of  missionarj' 
power.  It  shines  as  a  lighthouse  in  the  dark  region, 
the  light  brightest  at  its  source,  and  gradually  fading 
out,  though  its  beams  can  be  distinctl}-  traced  fort}', 
sixty,  and  a  hundred  miles  back  in  the  interior.  In 
Constantinople,  on  the  other  hand,  while  the  men  have 
been  just  as  eminent  for  strength,  learning,  wisdom 
and  piety,  they  have  been  buried  in  a  population  of  a 
million  of  people,  made  up  of  three  or  four  disconnected 
co-ordinate  races,  and  six  or  eight  other  subordinate 
ones.with  no  prevalent  languages,  with  absolute  barriers 
dropped  down  through  society,  across  which  it  is  next 
to  impossible  for  influence  to  pass  ;  and  what  they  do 
to  produce  any  perceptible  effect  on  the  place  must  be 
done  separately  and  independently,  by  a  prodigal  multi- 
plication of  effort  on  the  Mussulmen  by  the  use  of  the 
Turkish  language  here,  and  the  Arabic  there  ;  on  the 
Armenians  by  the  help  of  their  tongue,  on  the  Greeks 
by  the  means  of  the  Greek.  Besides,  they  ha.ve  been 
at  the  seat  of  the  Turkish  Government,  and  most  ex- 
posed to  its  watchings,  suspicions,  obstructions  and 
procrastinations. 

Yet,  what  I  call  the  Turkish  Mission,  grouping  all 
the  separate  stations  and  missions  in  the  empire  under 
one  head,  has  gained  in  strength  and  power  wonder- 
full3^  The  missionaries  have  quietly  gone  on  master- 
ing the  languages  of  the  divided  heterogeneous  popula- 
tion, so  as  to  be  able  to  reach  all  their  neighbors,  till  a 
missionary  who  can  preach  or  teach  in  only  one  foreign 
tongue  is  regarded  as  having  but  a  limited  preparation, 
and  one,  Mrs.  Baldwin  of  the  Brousa  School,  told  me 
she  could  teach  equally  well  in  the  Turkish,  Armenian 
or  Greek,  besides  the  English.  They  have  put  the 
Bible  into  all  the  leading  tongues,  in  good  scholarly 
and  5'et  popular  tran.slations. 


174  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

They  have  planted  schools,  colleges  and  seminaries 
for  the  training  of  young  men  for  the  ministrj',  j'oung 
ladies  for  teachers,  and  both  for  other  useful  positions. 
They  have  a  large  Bible  House  and  printing  establish- 
ment, employing  about  forty  men,  and  scatter  by  sale 
one  hundred  thousand  publications  a  year  among  the 
people,  besides  papers.  Robert  College  has  over  two 
hundred  3'oung  men,  of  more  than  twelve  races,  all 
but  about  fort}^  of  whom  are  in  the  college  course  ;  and 
when  I  looked  on  them  as  they  assembled  for  morning 
worship,  and  heard  them  all  read  in  concert  a  psalm  in 
English — the  whole  instruction  is  in  the  English  tongue 
— with  slow,  appreciative,  emphatic,  rhythmic  utter- 
ance, it  was  an  inspiring  scene.  The  Girls'  School  at 
Scutari,  just  across  the  Bosporus,  though  not  so  large, 
is  doing  a  hardh^  less  hopeful  and  noble  work  for  the 
women  of  Turkey.  Here,  too,  the  instruction  is  in 
English,  that  the  girls  may  be  not  only  educated,  but 
educated  in  a  language  that  has  a  literature  worth  read- 
ing, and  making  it  possible  for  them  to  have  intercourse 
with  the  nations  havang  the  most  influence  in  modern 
civilization.  This  enginer}^,  and  much  more,  is  visible 
about  Constantinople,  but  the  moral  and  civil  effects 
on  the  social  system  as  a  whole  are  not  very  conspicu- 
ous in  the  vicinity.  About  Constantinople  is  the  hid- 
ing of  the  moral  power  of  the  Turkish  mission.  It 
breaks  out  farther  away  in  the  interior.  The  influence 
which  seems  lost  in  the  noisy  and  bitter  metropolis  be- 
comes mighty  and  transforming  in  the  remote  districts 
and  more  homogeneous  communities.  If  Beirut  is  a 
lighthouse  shining  far  inland,  but  with  ever  fainter 
rays,  Constantinople  may  be  compared  to  gas  works, 
which  are  comparativeljMu visible  themselves,  and  have 
invisible  connections,  but  cause  jets  of  light  to  spring 


TRAVELS    ABROAD.  I75 

Up,  and  illuminate  many  points  far  from  them.  And 
3-et  there  are  changes  going  on  in  Constantinople  under 
the  influence  of  missionaries  which  show  that  it  is  not 
wholly  lost.  In  passing  through  the  Turkish  bazaars, 
I  saw  a  long  succession  of  stalls  packed  with  Turkish 
books  of  all  sizes  and  styles  and  kinds  of  binding,  an 
assortment  as  varied  and  numerous,  I  should  say,  in 
that  one  section,  as  all  of  Bancroft's  in  San  Francisco 
would  make.  Such  a  sight,  a  missionary  who  had  been 
in  Turkey  more  than  twenty  years,  who  was  with  me, 
said  was  unknown  and  impossible  when  he  went  there. 
There  is  an  unconscious  quickening  of  the  Turkish 
intellect  under  the  influences  from  abroad  ;  and  it  is 
the  revolutionary  religious  ideas  from  abroad  that  are 
most  feared  in  Turkey,  and  which  have  most  to  do  with 
this  renaissance.  The  teaching  of  a  pure  morality 
and  benevolent  living  by  the  missionaries  is  gradually 
passing  over  into  the  teachings  of  the  Turks,  and  in- 
fluencing the  standard  of  every-day  living  ;  and  not  a 
few  among  them,  especially  of  the  young  men,  are 
secret  inquirers  after  the  truth.  The  leaven  is  hidden, 
but  it  is  at  work,  and  I  could  recount  cases,  if  it  were 
wise  to  do  so,  which  would  gladden  Christian  hearts. 

But  the  national  and  civil  influence  of  our  govern- 
ment in  the  Levant  does  not  help  our  missionaries. 
The  Turk  does  not  respect  right  ;  he  respects  iron- 
clads and  bombshells.  The  other  powers  with  which 
he  has  had  to  do  have  prodded  his  sides  when  he  has 
been  insolent  or  surly.  America  has  taken  it  meekly, 
and  talked  with  him  about  it  on  paper  ;  and  now  the 
Turk  has  no  respect  for  the  paper  talks,  nor  the  power 
that  relies  on  them.  The  consequence  is,  our  Minister, 
General  Wallace,  w^ho  had  tried  to  protect  American 
rights,  has  found  himself  without  influence  with  the 


176  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

Sultan  and  Porte,  and  Americans  feel  humiliated  in  the 
East,  and  experience  innumerable  hardships  and  delays 
in  carrying  an}'  measure  through  to  a  practical  issue 
that  requires  the  sanction  of  the  government.  In  man^^ 
cases  they  have  sought  the  aid  of  the  officials  of  the 
British  Gvernment,  when  matters  required  prompt 
action.  General  Wallace  has  found  his  position  so 
hampered  and  uncomfortable  that  he  has  asked  leave 
of  absence,  and  gone  home  to  the  United  States,  and 
it  is  hoped  by  Americans  in  Turkej-  that,  under  his 
representations,  our  country  will  adopt  a  more  vigorous 
polic}'  in  its  dealings  with  that  government. 

The  result  of  m}-  observations  and  intercourse  with 
American  missionaries  in  the  East  is,  that  the}'  are  a 
remarkably  choice  body  of  men  and  women.  The}' 
are  in  earnest  for  Christ  and  his  truth  ;  they  are  bright , 
strong,  scholarly,  and  have  a  marked  and  positive  in- 
dividuality, and  yet  work  together  in  peace.  Such 
men  as  Dr.  Riggs,  Dr.  Bliss,  Dr.  Woods,  Dr.  Herrick, 
Dr.  Dwight,  of  the  Mission,  and  President  Washburn, 
of  Robert  College,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin,  of  the 
Brousa,  whom  I  met,  and  others  whose  acquaintance  I 
did  not  make,  are  persons  who  would  make  an  impres- 
sion and  be  a  power  in  any  community.  The  world 
cannot  now  appreciate  the  work  which  they  are  doing. 
After  ages  will  reveal  its  proportions  and  beauty.  Yet 
these  noble  workmen  have  their  discouragements.  They 
cannot  see  the  hidings  of  their  moral  power.  A  fresh 
eye  sometimes  sees  the  significance  of  facts  which  a 
familiar  eye  overlooks.  Besides,  these  missionaries 
have  been  annoyed  by  a  natural  result  of  their  success. 
The  native  converts,  rising  from  bondage  to  spiritual 
liberty,  like  boys  making  the  transition  from  childhood 
to  young  manhood,  trouble  them    by  knowing   very 


TRAVELS    ABROAD.  I  77 

much,  and  being  very  wise,  and  wanting  to  have  things 
in  their  o.vn  way  very  much.  But  these  annoj-ances, 
while  inevitable,  and  sure  to  come  sooner  or  later,  and 
while  they  have  led  to  much  discussion,  have  now  at 
least  a  temporary  rest,  under  the  influence  of  the  inves- 
tigations and  the  reports  in  connection  with  the  Amer- 
ican Board  last  year.  Things  are  moving  on  smoothly 
now  on  the  surface.  There  is  no  doubt  there  are  dif- 
ferent views  of  policy  and  wisdom,  but  the  work  could 
not  have  had  the  characteristics  of  Protestant  Christi- 
anit}'  if  there  were  not. 

While  on  this  journey  abroad  he  wrote  the  following 
letter  to  his  grandchildren,  which  is  here  given  a  place, 
not  onlj'  because  these  same  grandchildren  take  an  in- 
terest in  this  memorial  volume,  hut  also  because  his 
letter  shows  his  interest  in  them,  and  his  efforts  to 
write  that  which  would  please  them  : 

"  Paris,  France,  June  8,  1884. 

"   DE-\R      GR.A.NDCHILDREN,      BLANCHE,      GERTRUDE, 

Mary  and  Edson. 

"I  put  your  names  down  in  this  order,  because  I 
think  y6u  will  get  this  letter  in  this  order. 

"  I  have  seen  a  great  many  little  children  since  we 
saw  you,  but  I  have  seen  none  that  I  liked  so  much  as 
you.  In  fact,  I  think  we  have  four  of  the  nicest  little 
grandchildren  in  the  world,  and  how  glad  3'our  grand- 
ma and  I  shall  be  to  get  back  and  see  you. 

"Today  is  Sundaj',  and  we  are  in  a  country  where 
we  cannot  tell  what  people  say.  We  wanted  to  go  to 
church  where  a  man  preaches  so  that  we  can  under- 
stand him;  but  just  as  we  were  all  ready  it  began  to 
rain  very  hard.  We  could  not  go  to  church,  and  we 
felt  very  badly. 


178  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

"  You  can't  tell  How  droll  it  is  to  be  among  people 
and  not  be  able  to  tell  what  they  say,  nor  to  tell  them 
what  you  want  to.  Yesterday  your  grandma  and  I 
went  to  ride  in  an  omnibus,  to  visit  a  place  where 
there  was  once  a  great  prison,  called  the  Bastile. 
When  the  man  came  to  collect  the  fare,  I  handed  him 
what  I  had  been  told  was  the  fare.  He  took  it,  and 
jabbered  away  at  me  something  I  knew  nothing  about, 
shook  his  head,  looked  at  the  monej',  turned  it  over, 
and  reached  out  his  hand  for  more.  I  gave  him  more. 
He  shook  his  head.  I  gave  him  more,  and  that  was 
not  right,  and  there  was  more  jabbering.  By  that 
time  all  the  passengers  were  looking  at  me  and  smiling. 
I  then  put  my  hand  into  my  pocket,  and  took  out  a 
handful  of  money  and  reached  it  out  to  him  to  help 
himself  to  as  much  as  he  wanted.  He  put  back  what 
I  had  given  him,  and  selected  some  more  money, — just 
what  was  enough, — and  by  that  time  all  the  passengers 
were  laughing.  *  *  *  *  This  is  one  of  the  trials 
of  being  with  persons  you  can't  talk  with.  When  with 
them,  we  have  to  get  along  with  signs.  But  in  two  or 
three  days  we  expect  to  go  where  people  can  under- 
stand us. 

' '  Gertrude  and  Mary,  we  were  very  glad  to  get  your 
letters,  with  the  pictures  so  pretty  on  the  back  of  it. 
We  are  glad  to  know  that  you  all  pray  for  us  every  day, 
as  w^e  do  for  you,  and  we  hope  the  dear  Savior  will  enable 
us  to  go  home  soon,  and  find  you  all  well,  and  the  same 
dear,  good  little  children. 

' '  Your  loving  grandpa, 

"I.    E.    DwiNELL." 

Another  letter,  written  later  from  his  old  home  to  a 
grandchild,   is  inserted  here,  although  not  connected 


TRAVELS    ABROAD.  1 79 

with  his  foreign  travels.     It  was  written  for  her  ninth 
birthday,  when  he  was  in  his  sixty-ninth  year. 

' '  Dear  Mary  : 

' '  Nine  wishes  for  my  dear  granddaughter.     A  pyra- 
mid of  character. 

9 
Health 

Happiness 

Politeness 

Gentleness 

Kindness 

Usefulness 

Obedience 

Truthfulness 

Goodness 


69 

"  Yours,  69  to  9." 

In  that  birthday  budget  was  a  letter  from  her  grand- 
mother, that  introduces  another  of  the  grandchildren. 

"I  have  been  thinking  of  you  tonight,  when  you 
was  a  little  baby  just  like  your  little  cousin  Lily  Cla- 
rissa. It  doesn't  seem  long  since  then.  Again,  I  look 
forward  nine  years.  When  baby  Lily  is  nine,  how  old 
will  Mary  be?  I  don't  quite  like  to  look  so  far  on. 
There  may  be  a  great  many  changes  in  that  time. 

"  I  do  not  ask  to  see  the  distant  scene  ; 
One  step  enough  for  nie." 

In  the  summer  of  1889,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Dwinell  visited 
the  Hawaiian  Islands,  enjoying  for  several  weeks  de- 
lightful fellowship  with  friends,  new  and  old,  in  the 
Island  Kingdom.     Dr.  Dwinell  supplied  the  pulpit  of 


I  So  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

the  Union  Congregational  Church  during  the  vacation 
of  his  esteemed  friend,  Rev.  E-  G.  Beckwith,  D.D., 
the  pastor  of  the  church.  During  this  visit  occurred 
an  armed  rebellion,  which  aimed  at  the  overthrow  of 
the  government  of  King  Kalakaua.  In  these  events 
Dr.  Dwinell  took  a  deep  interest.  He  wrote  two  let- 
ters to  the  Evening  Bulletin,  of  San  Francisco,  in 
which  he  vividly  described  and  commented  upon  the 
exciting  scenes.  In  the  weekly  prayer  meeting  of  the 
church  to  which  he  was  temporarih'  ministering,  he 
paid  beautiful  tribute  to  the  Christian  influences  that 
have  given  vigor  and  vitality  to  the  civil  institutions 
of  Hawaii.  "  Christianity,"  he  said,  "  creates  in  the 
community,  far  beyond  the  circle  of  i's  professed  sub- 
jects, civic  virtue  and  integrity — men  of  principle  and 
patriotism,  ready  to  spring  into  the  breach  and  meet 
any  public  danger  at  the  peril  of  their  lives.  In  Chris- 
tian communities,  only  a  part  of  Christianity  is  in  the 
acknowledged  disciples.     A  large  part  has  floated  off, 

without  visible  connections,  into  the  humanities,  the 

« 

integrities,  the  loyalties  to  the  things  social  and  politi- 
cal of  the  public  at  large.  It  is  this  emanation  from 
Christianity  which  makes  all  the  difference  between 
the  social  and  civic  atmosphere  of  a  Christian  land  and 
of  a  pagan  land.  The  events  of  Tuesday  show  ver}- 
clearly  what  an  inlay  of  solid  political  worth  Christian- 
ity, with  its  associate  forces,  has  put  into  this  land 
[Hawaii].  While  it  carries  with  it  elements  which 
wickedness  maj^  appropriate  and  use,  as  in  this  case, 
it  also  carries  with  it  the  means  for  the  speedy  expul- 
sion of  the  mischief.     *     *     *     * 

' '  While  good  men  must  lament  the  occurrence  [of 
the  day  before],  they  may  well  take  courage  from  the 
reflection  that  the  civil  and  political  system  that  has 


TRAVELS    ABROAD.  l8l 

sprung  tip  on  these  Islands  is  not  a  football,  to  be 
played  with  by  political  adventurers,  but  has  substan- 
tial and  abiding  foundations  in  the  virtue  of  the  people . ' ' 
His  observations,  of  which  these  are  extracts,  were 
so  well  received,  that  he  was  requested  to  commit  them 
to  writing  that  they  might  be  published.  They  ap- 
peared in  The  Friend  oi  Honolulu. 

In  whatever  land  Dr.  Dwinell  traveled,  he  took  a  deep 
interest  in  all  that  affected  the  well-being  of  the  people. 
In  the  Orient,  on  the  continent  of  Europe,  in  Great 
Britain,  and  in  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  he  entered  at 
once  and  without  reserve  into  liveliest  sympathy  with 
all  the  moral  and  religious  forces  that  are  working  out 
under  God  the  renovation  of  society,  and  the  elevation 
of  individual  lives.  He  loved  travel,  but  he  loved 
more  that  wider  fellowship  with  noble  souls  in  all  lands 
to  which  travel  introduced  him. 

He  was  thoroughly  American,  but  it  was  Christian 
America  holding  forth  the  Word  of  Life,  —  liberty- 
loving  America  enlightening  the  world, — which  in  his 
eyes  gave  to  the  Stars  and  Stripes  their  supreme 
beauty.  Wherever,  therefore,  he  met  those  who  were 
endeavoring  to  make  other  lands  Christian  and  liberty- 
loving,  there  he  felt  at  home,  and  ever  after  took  them 
and  their  work  into  the  inner  sanctuary  of  his  heart. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

PROFESSORSHIP    AT    OAKLAND. 

Having  begun  his  life  of  service  as  a  teacher  of  youth 
in  public  and  private  schools,  it  was  fitting  that  he 
should  be  found  at  its  close  a  teacher  of  teachers. 

Thirty-five  j^ears  had  intervened  since  he  left  the 
teacher's  desk,  when  he  was  inducted  into  the  chair  of 
Homiletics  and  Pastoral  Theology  in  the  Pacific  Theo- 
logical Seminary.  Here,  delightfully  to  himself,  and 
with  great  acceptance  to  his  pupils,  he  passed  his  last 
3^ears  of  earthly  life. 

Associated  with  him  in  the  faculty  were  his  personal 
friends  and  fellow-laborers  through  a  score  of  years. 
Revs.  Joseph  A.  Benton,  D.D.,  and  George  Mooar, 
D.D.  Both  of  these  his  brethren  had  been  identified 
with  the  Seminar}'  from  its  very  inception,  and  to  both 
the  Institution  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  labors  and 
sacrifices  of  inestimable  value. 

Prof.  Benton,  after  unremitting  and  absorbing  ser- 
vice, the  memory  of  which  will  abide  in  the  churches 
of  California,  entered  upon  his  heavenlj'  reward  April 
8,  1892,  having  been  for  twenty-two  5'ears  a  Professor 
in  the  Seminary. 

Prof.  Mooar,  leaving  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Oakland,  in  1870,  entered  at 
once  the  professorship  of  Theology  in  this  youthful  in- 
stitution, where — a  survivor  of  his  associates,  Benton 
and  Dwinell — he  continues  to  give  to  the  Institution 


184  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

the  wealth  of  a  large  mind  and  the  counsel  of  a  wise 
judgment.  For  six  3'ears  these  three  brethren  stood  in 
very  close  relation  to  each  other,  not  only  in  their  work 
of  instruction,  but  also  in  their  connection  with  Plym- 
outh Avenue  Church,  of  which  all  were  members.  Dr. 
Mooar  being  pastor,  and  in  other  religious  and  literary 
associations. 

On  Seminary  Hill,  facing  the  School  of  the  Prophets, 
Prof.  Dwinell  built,  less  than  three  years  before  his 
death,  his  last  earthly  home.  It  was  in  all  respects  an 
attractive  place.  Within,  children  and  grandchildren, 
coming  from  their  scattered  homes,  found  warm  wel- 
come. Students,  during  those  3"ears,  will  never  forget 
how  quickly  they  were  made  to  feel  at  home  within 
those  hospitable  walls,  and  all  friends  coming  thither 
realized  that  here  was  used  ' '  hospitality  without 
grudging. ' ' 

Without  there  was  the  charm  of  flowers  ;  but  rarer 
than  these  was  the  unexcelled  panorama  of  hill  and 
plain,  of  cities  near  and  far,  of  bay  and  Golden  Gate, 
between  whose  pillared  sides  flow  in  and  out  the  waters 
of  the  great  Pacific. 

No  vision  from  the  heights  of  Nebo  could  have 
charmed  the  leader  of  God's  people  more  than  the  out- 
look from  this  home  on  the  hill  charmed  him  who  was 
ere  long  to  pass  over  Jordan  to  possess  the  land 

"Where  shines  undimm'd  one  blissful  day." 

Here,  if  anywhere,  one  might  dream.  Here  the  poet 
might  derive  inspiration,  for  from  the  study  windows 
in  the  second  story  the  view  was  unbroken  toward 
East  and  South  and  West ;  but  Prof.  Dwinell  was  a 
worker  not  a  dreamer.  He  was  not  a  poet,  and  yet  one 
little  waif,  bearing  date   1882,  has  been  found  among 


w 

5 
W 
% 

n 


7 


X, 


-I  ^*J-* 


PROFESSOR.SIIIP    AT   OAKLAND.  185 

his  papers,  which  shows  that  there  was  in  his  mind  a 
poetic  vein  almost  wholly  undeveloped. 

These  lines  were  written  while  recovering  from  ill- 
ness, at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Wilcox,  who 
at  that  time  resided  in  Redwood  : 

"  My  little  birdie  coming  wild  from  hill 
Or  vale,  and  eating  crumbs  out  of  this  hand, 
Extended  pale  and  sickly-from  my  room, — 
With  glance  deep-peering  into  friendly  eyes  ! 
I  love  the  confidence  which  now  I  see 
Doth  reign,  back  of  the  violence  of  man, 
Between  thy  heart  and  mine,  a  sign  of  what 
Once  was,  before  the  sin  of  man  sent  woe 
And  distrust  through  the  earth  ;  a  prophecy 
Of  what  shall  be,  because  the  blood  of  Christ 
Shall  wash  away  that  sin  and  all  its  wails. 
Come,  preacher  of  good  will  and  peace,  across 
The  chasm  'tween  thee  and  thine  and  human  kind  ! 
Proclaim  the  readiness  to  forget,  upon 
Your  side,  the  injuries  of  ages  !     Avow 
The  bonds  of  kindred,  springing  not  by  long 
And  slow  descents  from  some  ignobler  source 
Of  earth,  discovered  after  patient  search, 
But  coming  fresh,  as  it  hath  pleased  Him 
Out  from  the  hand  of  the  Eternal  One." 
Redwood,  July  10,  1S82. 

As  a  teacher,  it  w^as  Prof.  Dwinell's  habit  to  draw 
out  from  his  class  their  own  ideas.  This  done,  he 
would  correct  misapprehensions,  suggest  improve- 
ments, criticise  kindly,  and  conclude  with  valuable 
instructions. 

Thus,  if  the  subject  was  ■'  Preaching  Without 
Notes,"  he  would  give  out  the  subject  a  day  before- 
hand. At  the  recitation,  he  would  call  upon  one  to 
read  his  plan.  This  would  be  followed  by  criticisms  of 
the  plan  by  each  one  in  the  class,  his  own  criticism  and 
13 


l86  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

instruction  concluding  the  exercise.  Tlie  result  was 
to  stimulate  independent  thought.  In  his  hands  it  was 
a  fertile  method. 

His  work  in  the  department  of  Elocution  was  of 
great  importance.  Once  a  month  he  provided  for  public 
exercises,  consisting  of  declamations,  debates,  sermons, 
etc.  A  critic  from  outside  the  Seminary  was  appointed 
to  pass  upon  points  made.  He  made  much  of  these  ex- 
ercises, and  they  were  looked  forward  to  with  great 
interest  by  students  and  their  friends. 

He  made -but  little  if  an}^  use  of  text-books.  In 
Homiletics,  he  referred  to  such  authors  as  Vinet, 
Phelps,  Broadus,  etc.  He  urged  the  students  to  read 
wideh%  but  he  sought  especially  that  all  should  gather 
what  the}'  could  by  reflection. 

He  expected  from  the  Seniors  one  written  sermon  a 
month.  This  he  first  read  privately,  and  marked  pas- 
sages to  which  he  wished  to  call  attention.  He  then 
read  over  the  sermon  with  the  writer,  offering  his  com- 
mendations and  criticisms. 

Sometimes  he  would  give  out  a  text  for  a  sermon, 
and  ask  the  pupils  to  study  it  but  write  nothing  down, 
and  the  following  day  expect  an  outline  on  the  plan  to 
be  given  before  the  class  b}^  each  one.  Aside  from 
more  ordinary  subjects,  he  would  give  out  such  topics 
as,  "A  Drunkard's  Funeral,"  or,  "The  Reception  of 
Young  People  into  the  Church." 

He  gave  students  practice  in  reading  aloud  from  the 
Bible.  The  fortieth  Psalm  illustrates  the  kind  of  pas- 
sages to  be  read.  Various  hymns  were  also  read  aloud, 
for  his  criticism  on  the  reading. 

In  Pastoral  Theolog}^,  a  similar  course  was  adopted. 
He  would  ask  from  a  class  their  ideas  on  various  sub- 
jects,such  as  the  Sunda}' School,  funerals,  or  the  prayer 


PROFESSORSHIP    AT    OAKLAND.  187 

meeting,  and  near  the  close  of  the  hour  give  his  own 
suggestions  on  the  subject. 

The  classes  were  not  large,  and  some  of  the  students 
required  instruction  in  studies  outside  the  curriculum 
of  the  Seminary,  but  he  gave  to  each  from  the  wealth 
of  his  richly  stored  mind  all  the  devotion  of  a  divinely- 
enkindled  heart,  all  the  patience  and  persistence  of  a 
great  soul.  He  knew  how  to  communicate  instruction, 
and  how  to  lead  out  of  narrow  self,  and  up  into  the 
higher  realm  of  mental  freedom  and  reverent  investi- 
gation, those  that  were  on  the  waj-  to  the  gospel  min- 
istrJ^  His  instruction  brought  those  whom  he  taught 
nearer  to  the  Great  Preacher.  The  Bible  was  seen  to 
be  full  of  sermons  by  Jesus,  by  Paul,  by  prophets, 
whose  methods  of  discourse,  as  well  as  themes,  became 
models  for  the  preacher  of  toda}'. 

His  position  made  him  a  critic  of  his  pupils,  but  he 
was  a  kind  critic.  With  clearness  of  vision,  he  quickly 
saw  the  excellencies  and  defects  of  the  initial  efforts 
of  the  young  men,  and  with  rare  tact  he  was  able  to 
call  the  attention  of  the  writers  to  what  they  lacked, 
while  not  withholding  praise.  In  this  he  was  not  un- 
like Prof.  Phelps — a  recognized  master  of  criticism. 

Concerning  these  six  years  of  instruction.  Prof.  Ben- 
ton has  written  :  "  To  this  work  he  gave  himself  with 
ardor  and  energy,  and  with  great  personal  enjoyment  ; 
and,  of  course,  to  the  full  satisfaction  of  the  officers  of 
the  Seminar}^  and  the  finest  advantage  of  its  pupils  ; 
to  say  nothing  of  their  esteem  and  admiration,  since 
he  brought  to  them  knowledge,  experience,  character, 
wisdom,  and  the  uplift  of  a  great  nature." 

Prof.  Dwinell  impressed  all  his  pupils  as  a  friend. 
He  was  always  accessible  to  them,  and  gave  much  vol- 
untary help  to  all  who  needed  it,  and  wise  counsel  to 


1 88  ISRAEiv    KUSON    DWINELL. 

all  who  sought  it.  In  this,  of  course,  he  was  not  alone. 
All  of  the  Faculty  shared  in  this  helpful  service  of  a 
paternal  character,  and  each  will  live  in  the  hearts  of 
many  whom  he  has  befriended,  encouraged  and  wisely 
guided. 

Words  of  testimony  from  those  who  have  been  his 
students,  show  that  not  only  while  students  in  the 
Seminary,  but  also,  when  as  pastors  perplexities  sur- 
rounded them,  they  sought,  obtained  and  appreciated 
his  help  and  sympathy. 

"  I  owe  it  very  largely  to  Dr.  Dwinell  that  I  am  in 
the  Gospel  ministry,  for,  when  nearly  discouraged  by  a 
sense  of  personal  unfitness,  I  was  considering  some 
other  calling,  his  kind  words  of  sympathy  and  advice 
heartened  me  again,  and  I  entered  the  Seminar}^  I 
owe  a  great  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  sainted  man. " 

"  Worcester,  Mass.  Rev.  Leox  D.  Bliss." 

"  I  cannot  tell,  but  you  can  appreciate,  how  much  I 
have  been  helped  by  his  life.  His  memor}-  will  be  a 
call  upward  to  hundreds  and  thousands. " 

"Clayton.  Rev.  Edson  Dwinell  Hale." 

"Dr.  Dwinell  was  as  a  father  to  me — he  was  so  good 
and  kind.  I  could  go  to  him  when  in  difficulty,  feeling 
assured  that  I  could  get  help.  I  went  many  a  time, 
and  always  received  counsel,  strength  and  aid — yes, 
much  comfort.  Only  a  few  weeks  ago  I  sent  him  an 
article  to  criticise,  and  his  criticism  was  so  kind  and 
his  remarks  so  good  that  it  was  a  treasure  to  me  in- 
deed. Later,  I  asked  for  advice  about  certain  church 
matters,  and  in  his  reply  there  was  manifested  the 
same  generous  spirit  of  true  heartedness  and  superior 
wisdom. 

"Sebastopol,  Cal.  Rev.  William  Rogers." 


PROFESSORSHIP    AT    OAKLAND.  1 89 

"  Dr.  Dwinell  made  the  impression  upon  his  pupils 
that  he  was  a  deep  student ;  3'et  he  alwaj^s  informed 
them  that  lie  was  a  learner.  He  taught  the  students 
to  rel}'  upon  their  own  resources,  and  to  keep  high 
ideas  before  them. 

"He  was  master  of  every  subject  he  undertook  to 
teach.  It  was  a  great  treat  to  have  him  as  a  teacher. 
He  was  a  great  help  to  me  in  my  studies.  He  was 
clear  and  simple  in  statement.  He  was  patient  and 
thorough  with  us  all.  I  shall  look  back  to  the  daj'^s 
and  months  that  I  spent  in  his  class-room  with  great 
joy  and  thankfulness. 

' '  He  was  quick  to  discern  the  progress  of  his  students, 
and  had  a  personal  interest  in  and  sympathy'  with  his 
students.  He  used  to  visit  their  rooms,  to  talk  and 
pray  with  them.  Personally,  I  am  ver}^  greatly  in- 
debted to  him.  There  was  a  time  when,  if  it  had  not 
been  for  him,  I  should  have  had  to  leave  the  Semin- 
ary. He  and  his  family  have  shown  me  great  kind- 
ness from  time  to  time. 

"  Alameda.  Rev.  Wm.  N.  Huffman." 

While  devoting  himself  to  the  duties  of  the  profes- 
sorship, Dr.  Dwinell  entered  heartily  into  religious 
work,  especially  in  connection  with  Ph-mouth  Avenue 
Church,  of  which  he  became  a  member. 

In  the  Sunday  School  he  taught  a  class  of  young 
men  connected  with  the  Hopkins  Academy.  In  the 
weekly  prayer-meeting  he  took  an  active  part,  and  in 
whatever  affected  the  welfare  of  the  church  he  was 
always  interested.  He  enjoyed  attendance  upon  meet- 
ings of  the  "  Monday  Club  "  of  Congregational  minis- 
ters, held  weekly  in  San  Francisco,  and  of  the  "  Con- 
gregational Clul:), ' '  whose  observance  of  ' '  Forefathers' 


I  go  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

Day,"  by  addresses  and  social  festivities,  had  bis 
warmest  sympathy.  Several  of  his  most  scholarly  and 
valuable  addresses  were  prepared  for  these  occasions. 

He  was  a  member,  also,  of  "  The  Berkeley  Club," 
composed  of  literary  gentlemen  in  professional  and 
business  life,  who  met  semi-monthly  for  discussion  of 
high  themes.  Here,  whatever  gauntlet  might  be 
thrown  down  by  any  from  whom  Dr.  Dwinell  differed, 
he  never  feared  to  take  it  up,  and  the  lance  he  han- 
dled was  always  sturdily  and  skillfully  wielded  in  behalf 
of  whatever  his  intellect  and  heart  approved  as  truth. 

In  Oakland,  as  in  Sacramento,  he  was  often  called  to 
participate  in  Councils  of  ordination,  in  services  of 
dedication,  and  to  preach  on  these  or  other  special  oc- 
casions. He  took  an  active  interest  in  efforts  to  secure 
Sabbath  observance,  to  suppress  the  saloon,  and  to 
promote  good  local  government. 

He  wrote  much  for  the  religious  press,  and  not  in- 
frequently prepared  articles  for  the  Bibliotheca  Sacra. 

In  addition  to  all  this,  he  seemed  to  be  in  the  out- 
skirts of  the  parish  that  had  claimed  his  zealous  care 
for  twenty  years.  Former  Sacramentans  abound  in 
Oakland,  in  San  Francisco,  and  throughout  the  State. 
Repeated  calls  were  made  upon  him,  while  in  Oakland, 
to  officiate  at  marriages  and  baptisms,  and  to  attend 
funerals  in  the  families  of  former  parishioners  and  fel- 
low-citizens. Whenever  possible  he  responded  to  the 
call,  especially  when  the  shadows  crossed  the  thresh- 
olds of  those  among  whom  he  had  labored  in  the  past. 
Cottage  and  palace  alike,  could  their  walls  talk,  might 
speak  of  his  faithful  counsels  and  words  of  Christian 
sympathy. 

This  large  constituency  scattered  throughout  the 
State  had  its  counterpart  in  New  England,  Salem  and 


PROFESSORSHIP    AT    OAKLAND.  191 

Sacramento,  forming  the  two  centers  of  an  ellipse 
within  which  the  influence  of  Dr.  Dwinell  lived  in 
hearts  whom  he  had  blessed  and  comforted. 

This  influence  of  Dr.  Dwinell,  so  tenacious  and  far- 
reaching,  was  altogether  beneficent.  Because  to  so 
many  wh )  knew  him  it  has  proved  a  benign  influence, 
it  has  been  to  the  writer  of  this  memorial  not  onlj'  a 
loving  servnce  of  personal  affection,  but  also  a  joyful 
Christian  service,  to  help  perpetuate  that  influence 
among  his  fellow  men,  and  especially  among  the  young 
men  of  this  generation.  It  is  not  death  to  die  at  the 
close  of  a  life  like  this. 

"  When  a  good  man  dies, 

For  years  beyond  our  ken, 
The  light  he  leaves  behind  him. 
Lies  upon  the  paths  of  men." 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

CLOSE   OF   LIFE. 

On  the  12th  of  Maj-,  the  Seminary  j^ear  closed.  On 
that  and  the  preceding  day  Dr.  Dwinell  conducted 
the  examinations  in  his  own  department,  was  present 
at  the  examinations  by  the  other  professors,  attended 
a  meeting  of  trustees,  offered  the  praj^er  at  the  An- 
niversary exercises,  and  was  present  at  a  reception 
tendered  to  the  students  and  their  friends  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Prof.  Benton.  In  addition  to  this,  in  con- 
junction with  Mrs.  Dwinell,  he  entertained  friends 
most  hospitably  at  his  own  pleasant  home. 

All  this,  at  the  close  of  a  busy  and  laborious  year, 
made  the  vacation  look  very  attractive  to  him.  Within 
a  few  da5^s  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dwinell  went  to  the  home  of 
their  daughter,  Mrs.  Jew^ett,  near  Vacaville,  for  needed 
rest  and  recreation.  It  was  rarely  the  case  that  Dr. 
Dwinell  did  not  plan  for  vacation  work,  in  the  way  of 
special  reading  or  writing  upon  some  vital  topics  upper- 
most in  his  mind,  but  on  this  occasion  his  watchword 
seemed  to  be  rest.  The  warm  sun-hine,  the  vineclad 
porch,  the  burdened  fruit  trees,  the  nodding  grain,  the 
quiet  drives,  were  peculiarlj-  attractive  to  him.  He 
undertook  no  stud}-,  he  read  less  than  usual,  he  went 
in  and  o  t  of  that  home  for  a  few  brief  days  unburdened 
by  care,  except  for  the  loved  ones  about  him. 

On  Sunday  evening.  May  i8th,  there  came  into  this 
home  to  bless  the  hearts  of  parents  and  grandparents 


194  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

little  Rebekah,  his  ninth  grandchild.  One  after  another, 
these  grandchildren  had  received  the  seal  of  baptism  at 
his  hand.  But  so  closel}-  followed  the  time  of  his  de- 
parture upon  the  coming  of  this  little  child,  that  he 
did  not  perform  for  her  this  service.  Very  tenderl}-, 
however,  did  he  take  the  infant  of  days  from  her  grand- 
mother and  namesake  on  one  occasion,  and  hold  her 
in  his  arms,  his  countenance  all  aglow  as  he  talked  to 
her,  and  caused  her  to  smile.  The  scene,  which  attracted 
the  attention  of  that  home  circle  at  the  time,  recalls 
the  entr}'  which  he  made  in  his  journal  when  little 
Rebekah 's  mother  was  born  :  "I  find  that  I  am  dis- 
posed to  love  her  at  once,  The  affection  does  not  wait 
to  grow,  as  in  the  case  of  our  little  Eddie,  but  pours 
forth  in  full  strength  at  once." 

On  Thursda}^  the  22nd  of  May,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Dwi- 
nell  went  to  Oakland,  expecting  to  return  to  Vacaville 
in  a  few  da3^s  for  further  rest  and  enjoyment.  But  the 
rest  he  sought  was  soon  to  be  found  in  the  Heavenly 
Home,  and  the  enjoyment  entered  upon  that  which  is 
eternal. 

The  two  weeks  that  followed  wrought  swiftly  their 
great  work. 

Reference  has  been  made  in  these  pages  to  Mills 
College  and  Seminary.  At  this  time,  the  institution 
was  just  emerging  from  troubles  that  had  claimed  the 
deepest  solicitude  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and  at- 
tracted wide-spread  public  attention.  The  crisis  had 
scarcely  passed,  when  Commencement  Daj'  arrived. 
Dr.  Dwinell  had  not  the  strength  to  meet  the  excite- 
ments and  burdens  incident  to  the  position  of  trustee 
at  that  time.  Yet  so  deep  was  his  interest  in  the  in- 
stitution, that  he  gave  no  thought  to  his  own  strength 
in  his  service  of  the  college.     Man}-  duties,  some  of 


CLOSE    OF    LIFE.  1 95 

them  taxing  him  to  the  utmost,  claimed  his  closest  at- 
tention. 

In  the  presence  of  a  large  audience  he  presented 
diplomas  to  the  graduates,  and  briefly  and  beautifully 
addressed  them. 

On  his  wa}'  home  he  stopped  at  the  office  of  his 
son-in-law,  Dr.  Wilcox,  and  asked  for  an  examination 
of  the  action  of  his  heart.  This  was  found  to  be  very 
rapid  and  very  weak.  Absolute  rest  was  insisted  up- 
on, and  an  early  return  to  Vacaville  was  urged  ;  but 
other  and  exhausting  labors  were  requested  of  him  in 
connection  with  the  college  difficulties,  and  he  com- 
plied, when  he  should  have  been  entirely  free  from  all 
excitement. 

But  the  time  had  come  when  the  earthly  service  was 
about  to  be  exchanged  for  the  higher  service  that 
awaits  the  saints. 

On  Friday  morning  he  felt  too  weak  to  rise.  Soon 
the  enfeebled  heart  began  to  labor  in  vain  to  renew 
the  life  currents  that  were  ebbing.  Congested  lungs 
added  to  the  complications.  A  struggle  for  breath, 
which  grew  in  intensity,  began.  The  agonies  of  the 
conflict  gave  token  of  what  the  result  must  be. 

The  week  that  intervened  between  his  yielding  to 
the  force  of  the  disease  and  his  death,  displayed  the 
consummation  of  his  gentleness,  heroism  and  faith. 
Although  in  mortal  agony  himself  he  never,  for  a  mo- 
ment, forgot  the  comfort  of  those  about  him..  He 
talked  of  the  coming  change  with  her  whose  love,  ten- 
der and  strong,  had  enveloped  him  as  an  atmosphere, 
and  ministered  to  her  grief  by  his  own  courageous 
faith.  He  had  a  word  of  grateful  appreciation  for 
every  service  rendered  by  all  who  were  about  him. 
He  sent  messages  of  affection  to  the  absent.     He  noted 


196  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

the  singing  of  the  birds.  When,  on  account  of  his 
struggle  for  breath,  his  bed  was  moved  near  the  bay- 
window  of  his  chamber  (adjoining  the  front  room, 
which  was  his  study),  he  looked  out  upon  the  eastern 
hills  toward  Piedmont,  and  exclaimed  in  broken  sen- 
tences, "  Beautiful  hills  !  beautiful  hills  !  I  will  lift  up 
mine  ej^es  unto  the  hills — not  these  hills,  but  those  of 
which  these  are  emblematic." 

Morning  and  evening,  as  was  their  wont,  the  family 
gathered  with  him  for  household  worship.  The  pas- 
sages familiar  to  him,  in  Hebrew  or  Greek  as  well  as 
in  English,  were  not  only  his  comfort,  but  also  used  by 
him  for  the  comfort  of  those  about  him.  In  all  his 
distress  he  held  fast  to  Him  in  whom  he  believed,  and 
by  whom  he  was  girded  for  the  last  conflict. 

On  Saturdaj'  morning,  the  7th  of  June,  the  conflict 
ended.  For  those  who  had  ministered  to  him  with 
sleepless  devotion,  and  for  her  whom  sickness  had  de- 
prived of  the  sweet  solace  of  sharing  these  vigils,  it 
was  an  hour  of  grief,  sweetened  with  blessed  memories 
and  all  the  comforts  that  such  a  triumph  of  faith  in  a 
risen  L,ord  could  give.  To  him  it  was  the  hour  of  re- 
lease and  victory. 

In  that  last  week  of  suffering  there  had  been  erected 
in  his  sick  chamber  the  triumphal  arch  of  the  Christian 
victor,  through  which  this  pure  and  loftj^  soul  passed, 
with  the  majesty  of  a  Christian  conqueror,  on  his  way 
to  the  capital  of  his  Master's  kingdom.  On  the  after- 
noon of  Monday,  the  9th  of  June,  simple  funeral  ser- 
vices were  held  in  the  home.  Rev.  E.  C.  Oakle}^,  pas- 
tor of  Plymouth  Avenue  Church,  read  passages  of 
Scripture.  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Willey,  D.D.,  paid  lov- 
ing tribute  to  his  life-long  friend.  Prof.  George  Mooar, 
D.  D.,  one  of  Dr.   Dwinell's  co-laborers  in  the  Semi- 


CLOSE    OF    LIFE.  I 97 

nary,  tenderly  commended  the  living  to  the  God  of  all 
comfort.  Representatives  of  the  Boards  of  Trust  of 
the  Pacific  Seminary  and  Mills  College,  and  represent- 
atives of  the  Berkeley  Club,  of  which  he  was  a  mem- 
ber, were  his  pall  bearers.  His  body  rests  in  Moun- 
tain View  Cemetery  at  Oakland.  His  grave  is  marked 
by  a  simple  massive  monument,  on  which  this  inscrip- 
tion briefly  tells  the  passer-by  who  and  what  sort  of  a 
man  he  was  : 

ISRAEL  E.  DWINELL. 

East  Calais,  Vt.,  October  24,  1820. 

Oakland,  Cal.,  June  7,  1890. 


2  TIMOTHY,  4:7. 

1  have  fought  a  good  fight,     I  have  finished  my  course, 
I  have  kept  the  faith. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

GENEALOGY. 

1.  Michael  Dunnel,   b.  France,  d.  Topsfield,  Mass., 

1717. 

2.  Thomas  Doenell,  (written  also  Dwennel  and  Dwo- 

nill,)  the  fourth  of  nine  children,  b.  1672,  m. 
Dinah  Brimsdell  of  Lynn,  d.  Topsfield,  1747. 

3.  Jonathan  Bunnell,  eldest  of  nine  children,  b.  June, 

1702,  m.  Mehitable  Kenna}-,  d.  Millbur}',  Mass., 
1782. 

4.  Archelaus  Dwinel,  the  fourth  of  eleven  children, 

b.  Topsfield,  1731,  m.  Martha  Perkins,  d.  (in 
French  and  Indian  War)  Nov.  13,  1758,  aged  27. 

5.  Archelaus  Dwinel,  Jr.,  eldest  of  three  children,  b. 

Boxford,  1754,  m.  Olive  Hall,  daughter  of  Dea- 
con Willis  Hall,  of  Sutton,  d.  Marshfield,  \'t. 
He  was  a  soldier  under  Washington. 

6.  Israel  Dwinell,  third  of  six  children,  b.  Croyden, 

N.  H.,  Oct.  8,  1789,  m.  April  i,  1813,  Phila 
Oilman,  of  Marshfield,  Vt.  She  died  June  i, 
1864.     He  died  Feb.  20,  1874. 

7.  Their  children: 

Alcander  resides  in  Brookh-n,  N.  Y. 

Ira  S.  resides  East  Calais,  Vi. 

Solon,  d.  in  infancy. 

Israel  Edson,  b.  East  Calais,  Oct.  24,  1820,  m. 
Sept.  12,  184S,  at  Jonesboro,  Tenn.,  Rebecca 
Eliza  Allen  Maxwell,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 


200  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

Hester  L  (Grear)  Maxwell.  I.  E.  D.,  d.  Oak- 
land, Cal.,  June  7,  1890. 

Albert  resides  East  Calais. 

Melvin,  d.  Rome,  Georgia,  Dec.  28,  1887. 

Levi  Gilman  resides  East  Calais. 

Phila  Jane,  m.  Rev.  John  Gardiner  Hale  ;  resides 
Redlands,  Cal. 

Nuel  Byron,  d.  East  Calais,  aged  13. 

Edgar,  d.  in  infancj^ 

8.  Children  of  Israel  Edson  and  Rebecca  E.  Dwinell. 

(i)     Edson,  b.  Salem,  Mass.,  d.  Salem. 

(2)  Alice  Hester,  b.  Salem,  m.  at  Sacramento, 

Cal.,  Rev.  Henry  E.  Jewett. 

(3)  Jane  Rebecca,  b.  Salem,  m.  at  Sacramento, 

Wilbur  J.  Wilcox,  M.D. 

(4)  William,  b.  Salem,  m.  at  Sacramento,  Flor- 

ence,  daughter   of  W.    K.  and    Blanche 
Knight. 

(5)  Lillie,  b.  Salem,  m.  at  Sacramento,  Robert 

H.  Hawle}',  d.  Sacramento,  Oct.  24,  1885. 

(6)  Albert,  b.  Salem  ;  d.  Salem,  1863. 

9.  Grandchildren  of  Israel   Edson    and  Rebecca  E. 

Dwinell. 
Gertrude  Maxwell  Jewett. 
Mary  Fairbanks  Jewett. 
Rebekah  Edith  Dwinell  Jewett. 
Edson  Dwinell  Wilcox. 
Lee  Wilcox,  d.  in  infancy. 
Wilbur  J.  Wilcox,  Jr.,  d.  in  infancy. 
Henr)^  Wilcox,  -d.  in  infancy. 
Elizabeth  (Lily)  Clarissa  Wilcox. 
Blanche  Maxwell   Dwdnell. 

Franklin  Fairbanks  Jewett.. 


CHAPTER    XX. 
"appreciated  bv  others." 

' '  I  HAD  known  him  from  mj'  boyhood.  We  were 
born  in  the  same  country  town,  studied  together  at  the 
same  Academy  and  later  in  the  University,  where  he 
was  two  years  in  advance  of  me.  His  later  life  just 
realized  the  promise  of  his  youth — a  boy  and  j^outh  of 
singvilar  sweetness  and  purity  of  character — a  born 
gentleman  if  ever  there  w^ere  one  ;  of  unusual  mental 
ability,  of  untiring  diligence  and  faithfulness  in  every- 
thing he  undertook,  a  leader  in  all  religious  enterprises 
in  college,  an  accomplished  writer,  happy  in  debate, 
valuing  truth  and  his  convictions  all  the  more  that  he 
had  come  to  them  as  the  result  of  patient  thought  and 
careful  discussion,  alwa3's  and  everywhere  the  humble, 
earnest,  consecrated  Christian.  Such  was  Israel  Edson 
Dwinell,  my  loved  and  honored  townsman  and  friend. 

"  But  why  speak  of  him  to  3'ou  and  his  bereaved 
kindred  ?  Only  to  let  you  know  how  warmlj'  he  was 
appreciated  by  others. 

"Boston,  Mass.  Rev.  N.  G.  Clark,  D.D. 

Sec'y  A.  B.  C.  F.  M." 

"  So  one  more  saint  has  joined  the  assembh-  of  just 
men  made  perfect  !  You  and  your  children  are  feeling 
the  sharp  pangs  of  separation  and  bereavement,  but 
some  of  us  whose  thoughts  of  him  linger  about  the  old 
days  of  his  Salem  feebleness  feel  their  hearts  swell  not 

14 


202  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

only  with  memories  of  his  personal  kindness  and  fel- 
lowship, but  with  gratitude  to  God  for  the  mercy  that 
has  spared  him  all  these  subsequent  years,  and  given 
him  the  strength,  and  enterprise,  and  endurance  of 
body  and  spirit,  to  achieve  the  noble  and  varied  work 
of  his  well-rounded  life.  Surely,  j-ou  can  catch  even 
in  your  grief  something  of  the  contagion  of  grateful 
joy  with  which  others  think  of  him.  *  *  *  i 
should  like  to  tell  you  how  much  his  unvarying  kind- 
liness and  sweetness  and  manly  Christian  strength 
were  to  me  in  the  opening  da)^sof  my  limited  ministry 
at  Salem.  Prof.  J.  Henry  Thayer. 

"Cambridge,  Mass." 

"  He  was  my  best  friend,  the  last  of  the  three  dear- 
est gentlemen  friends  of  m}'  life-time.  *  *  *  ;\iy 
dearest,  longest,  truest  friend.  It  seems  to  me  to 
break  the  strongest  link  that  binds  me  to  life  and  its 
work.  *  *  *  How  much  you  will  find  in  his  life 
to  make  you  glad  in  3'our  grief  ! 

"  Short  Hills,  N.  J.  Rev.  A.  B.  Rich." 

"It  is  indeed  a.  personal  bereavement,  and  I  crave 
the  privilege  of  mingling  ni}-  tears  with  yours.  He 
was  very  dear  to  me  ever  since  I  knew  him  in  Salem. 
*  *  *  I  have  rejoiced  in  his  prosperity,  which, 
under  God,  was  his  legitimate  desert.  It  was  with  the 
highest  pleasure  that  my  wife  and  I  met  him  last  au- 
tumn, at  the  meeting  of  the  American  Board  in  N.  Y. 
There  was  the  same  cordiality  of  manner,  the  same 
sweet  smile,  the  same  loving  spirit  that  characterized 
our  relations  to  each  other  so  long  ago. 

"  East  Taunton,  Mass.         Rev.  E.  W.  Allen." 


"appreciated  bv  others."  203 

"  We  remember  with  true  pleasure  the  pure  life,  the 
gentle  and  considerate  friend,  the  safe  counsellor,  the 
good  man,  the  loving  husband,  the  affectionate  and 
devoted  father,  the  consistent  Christian,  the  faithful 
pastor,  the  true  man  in  everj^  relation  of  life.  *  *  * 
God  bless  and  comfort  you  all.  Joseph  Allen. 

"Nashville,  Tenn." 

"Other  men  surpassed  him  as  popular  orators,  but 
very  few  surpassed  him  as  a  clear,  logical  thinker  and 
discriminating  writer.  And  his  goodness  was  even 
greater  than  his  greatness.  He  always  wanted  the 
right  to  prevail,  and  he  wanted  to  see  the  right,  whether 
in  accordance  with  his  previous  views  or  not.  *  *  * 
His  honesty  led  him  to  investigate  and  apply  what  he 
regarded  as  just  principles  to  the  interpretation  of 
God's  Word.  And  so,  in  everj'thing,  he  sought  to  be 
just  right.  Rev.  John  G.  Hale. 

"Redlands,  Cal." 

' '  I  think  his  memory  will  alwaj-s  be  an  inspiration  to 
all  who  knew  him.  It  was  not  only  his  scholarship 
and  his  goodness  that  distinguished  him,  but  that  lov- 
ableness  and  sympathy'  which  made  him  the  friend  of 
all  he  met.  *  *  *  I  think  he  must  be  one  of  the 
'  Angels  excelling  in  strength. ' 

"  Redlands,  Cal.  Miss  Mary  G.  Hale." 

"  His  life,  so  noble,  so  good,  so  full  of  love  and  faith, 
will  still  bless  all  who  have  felt  its  influence.  What 
blessed  comfort  there  is  for  you,  even  in  the  depths  of 
your  loneliness  and  sorrow.  Mrs.  J.  F.  Ellis. 

"  Forest  Grove,  Oregon." 


204  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

' '  He  has  rounded  out  to  three-score  years  a  most 
useful  life,  and  has  gone  to  rest  in  the  fullness  of  his 
powers,  his  usefulness  and  his  fame.  *  *  *  Why 
should  I  not  say,  except  in  S3-mpathy  with  your  sorrow 
and.  bereavement,  as  Dr.  Riggs  did  when  he  heard  of 
my  father-in-law's  death.  '  I  congratulate  him  !  ' 

"Marsoovan,  Turkey.  Rev.  Geo.  F.  Herrick.  " 

"Please  count  Mrs.  Hammond  and  myself  among 
the  sincere  mourners  for  your  husband.  Never  before 
in  our  lives  were  we  so  strongl)^  attached  on  so  short 
an  acquaintance  as  to  you  and  your  husband.  *  *  * 
Accept  our  heartfelt  sympathies. 

"  Evanston,  111.  Mr.  &  Mrs.  H.  L,.  Hammond." 

"  I  loved  to  walk  and  talk  wntb  him — to  feel  the  in- 
fluence of  the  spirit  which  he  breathed.  I  loved  to 
hear  him  preach.  The  peculiar  quality  and  flavor  of 
his  sermons  were  grateful  to  me.  *  *  *  i  know 
from  some  friends  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
how  they  enjoj^ed  and  valued  his  sermons  and  his 
presence  among  them.  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Kirk. 

"Orange,  N.  J." 

"  I  presume  that  gold  piece  which  he  gave  me  the 
day  I  left  Oakland  was  the  last  gift  he  gave.  I  trust  it 
may  be  sacred  to  the  Lord  and  bring  his  special  bless- 
ing. Mrs.  a.  S.  Steele. 

"Steele  Home,  Chattanooga,  Tenn." 

"  I  never  failed  to  enjo}-  richly  his  rare  truth  of  char- 
acter, his  ample,  varied  and  growing  powers,  his  quick, 
clear  insight  into  the  meaning  and  drift  of  religious 
events,  his  broad   views,  his   appreciation  of  persons 


"appreciated  by  others."  205 

and  characters,  and  his  unswerving  pursuit  of  the  ends 
of  truth  and  righteousness. 

"Grinnell,  Iowa.   Rev.  Geo.  F.  Magoon,  D.D." 

"  I  loved  him  tender!}-  as  I  believe  everybod}"  did 
who  knew  him  well.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  dear  he 
was  to  me.  There  is  no  brother  minister,  anywhere, 
with  whom  I  have  found  mj'self  in  closer  sympathy 
than  with  my  dear  brother  Dwinell.  His  rare  culture 
and  his  beautiful  spirit  were  wondrously  winning  to 
me,  and  his  fidelity  to  duty  was  always  an  inspiration. 
I  have  never  known  any  man  whose  teaching  and 
whose  example  I  could  more  confidently  follow. 
Almost  an  ideal  Christian  brother  he  has  seemed  to  me. 
*  *  *  I  think  of  his  and  your  visit  in  Honolulu 
last  summer  with  exceeding  pleasure,  and  I  count  it 
one  of  the  rare  privileges  of  my  pastoral  life  to  have 
had  those  few  weeks  of  his  pulpit  ministrations. 
Every  sermon  gave  one  new  admiration  for  him  and 
drew  me  toward  him  with  increasing  love. 

' '  He  will  never  be  forgotten  by  the  good  people 
here,  among  whom  he  left  only  the  most  delightful 
memories.  Rev.  E.  G.  Beckwith,  D.D. 

"  Honolulu,  Hawaiian  Islands." 

"We  shall  miss  his  influence  and  his  pen,  which 
were  always  wielded  as  I  think  on  the  right  side  of  the 
great  issues  of  the  da}-.  *  *  *  You  do  not  weep 
alone.  I  am  sure  all  your  husband's  ministerial 
brethren  and  a  multitude  of  Christian  friends  mourn  his 
loss  with  5'ou,  for  he  was  universally  beloved  and 
respected.  Rev.  J.  C.Holbrook,  D.D. 

■'Stockton,  Cal." 


2o6  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

"  It  is  our  privilege  to  have  known  him,  and  mine 
to  have  spent  many  hours  in  company  with  him  and 
3-ourself  in  your  delightful  home  on  the  hill.  I  will 
ever  remember  the  delightful  conversations  of  those 
visits.  Rev.  Isaac  Pierson. 

"Missionary  in  China." 

"Massachusetts  feels  California's  loss.  *  *  * 
To  your  beloved  husband  came  the  inspiration  and  the 
opportunity  to  say  the  bravest  and  most  touching  word 
uttered  in  all  that  great  meeting  at  Springfield.  I  felt 
then  and  feel  now  that  the  Holy  Spirit  put  special  hon- 
or on  him.  Rev.  Ewing  O.  Tade. 

"East  Granville,  Mass. 


» ) 


' '  I  beg  to  express  my  deep  sympathy  for  you  and 
yours  in  the  sudden  and  severe  bereavement  brought 
upon  you  by  the  unanticipated  death  of  Dr.  Dwinell. 
*  *  *  Having  enjoyed  for  many  years  an  acquaint- 
ance with  the  Doctor,  you  may  realize  the  gratification 
I  should  have  in  seeing  his  kindly  face  again,  but 
which  may  not  be.  *  *  *  Mrs.  Hopkins  joins  me 
in  feelings  of  sympathy  and  sorrow. 

"San  Francisco.  MosES  Hopkins." 

' '  Your  departed  husband  lived  a  life  of  unusual  use- 
fulness, and  exerted  an  influence  for  good  that  will 
adide.  I  am  thankful  it  was  my  privilege  to  know 
him  so  long  and  so  well,  and  to  be  associated  with  him 
in  the  Institution  to  which  he  gave  his  last  years  of 
toil.  James  M.  Haven. 

"  San  Francisco." 

'  *  The  comfort  is  deep  that  comes  from  the  assurance 
that  the  glorified  drop  their  anxieties  and  fears,  while 


' '  APPRECIATED    BY    OTHERS.  ' '  207 

the}"  may  retain  all  their  interest  in  the  subjects  of 
their  earthly  labors  and  solicitudes.  *  .  *  *  Please 
accept  our  sincerest  sympath}-. 

Vacaville.  Rev.  Henrv  W.  Jones." 


i  ( 


' '  With  prayer  and  s^-mpathy  I  greet  5'ou  in  the 
sacred  fellowship  of  suffering. 

"  Only  a  few  months  ago  your  beloved  sent  me 
gracious  words  of  comfort  in  my  trial  hour.  May  the 
everlasting  arms  sustain  you  ! 

"  Los  Angeles.         Rev.  R.  G.  Hutchins,  D.D." 

' '  You  have  lost  a  precious  husband  ;  the  church  and 
country  a  most  efficient  and  faithful  leader,  but  heaven 
is  richer  for  such  an  one!        Mrs.  C.  L.  Gooddell. 

"Boston." 

' '  You  are  comforted  as  but  few  can  be,  in  knowing 
how  fully  the  whole  church  of  God  mourns  with  you. 
T/ie  loss  is  great,  but  his  works  do  follow  and  will.     * 

*  *  It  was  so  much  to  take  :  yes,  but  was  it  not 
also  much  to  give?  And  the  Lord  took.  He  also 
gave,  and  evermore  wall  3'ou  bless  His  name  for  so 
great  a  gift.  Mrs.  Horace  Fairbanks. 

"vSt.  Johnsbury,  Vt." 

"The  benediction  which  he  always  left  whenever 
we  met  can  never  cease  to  be  ours,  for  death  does  not 
take  our  real  things  from  us.  *  *  *  Through  \-our 
tears  you  can  smile  over  the  triumphs  of  faith  your 
eyes  have  seen,  and  you  rejoice  in  the  victory  won — 
the  entrance  into  those  halls  'conjubilant  with  song.' 

Mrs.  Franklin  Fairbanks. 

"St.  Johnsbury,  Vt." 


2o8  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

"  It  seemed  to  me  that  he  was  a  man  who  walked 
with  God,  who  was  governed  by  high  and  noble  mo- 
tives, and  Avhose  very  presence  was  an  inspiration  to 
all  that  was  pure  and  lovely  and  of  good  report. 

"San  Francisco.  Mrs.  W.  C.  Pond." 

"  It  is  so  mysterious  that  one  so  good  and  so  useful 
should  be  removed.  The  Seminar}-  has  received  a 
great  blow,  and  met  with  a  heavy  loss. 

"Oakland.  Mrs.  J.  K.  McI^EAn." 

"We  all  thank  God  for  the  precious  legacy  3'our 
dear  husband  has  left  to  the  church  and  the  world,  the 
record  of  his  grand,  noble  life.  *  *  *  There  is  a 
ver}'  keen  sense  of  loss  and  disappointment,  that  he 
should  be  taken  from  the  work  that  needed  him  so 
much,  but  God  knows  best. 

"San  Francisco.  Mrs.  J.  H.  Warren." 

' '  God  will  be  ver}-  near   to  you  into  the  light    of 
whose  presence  your  sainted  husband  has  entered. 
"  Lowell,  Mass.  Miss  Lucy  Fay.  ' ' 

"*  *  *  Your  beloved  husband,  honored,  revered, 
loved  by  every  one,  full  of  usefulness  to  the  Church  of 
God  and  to  his  famil5%is  laid  away.  *  *  *  May 
the  Lord  sustain  you.  Mrs.  vS.  S.  Smith. 

"  San  Francisco." 

"Grand,  seems  the  term  to  apply  to  him  in  personal 
appearance,  ability,  purity,  nobility,  and  loveliness  of 
character.  *  *  *  n  ^ill  help  us  to  know  he  as- 
sisted to  dedicate  our  building,  and  to  form  the  society. 

"  Gait,  Cal.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  O.  Harvey." 


"APPRECIATED    BY    OTHERS.  209 

"  The  news  of  the  death  of  your  husband  was 
received  with  deep  regret  by  the  members  of  Grace 
Congregational  Church  of  this  place,  and  we  condole 
with  5'ou  most  sincereh'  on  the  sad  event.  If  the 
sympathy  of  friends  can  be  anj^  consolation  under  the 
trying  circumstances,  be  assured  that  we  all  share  in 
3'our  sorrow  for  his  loss.     *     *     * 

Helen  A.  Steinmetz,  Sec'y. 

"  Mission  San  Jose,  Cal.  " 

"  His  kindness  to  me  will  never  be  forgotten. 

"  Lordsburg,  N.  M.  Charles  W.  Wilcox." 

"Many  of  his  kind  words  of  advice  and  counsel, 
given  to  us  young  people  at  the  weekly  prayer-meet- 
ings in  the  chapel  will  be  remembered  as  long  as  I  live. 

"Oakland.  Arthur  P.Alexander." 

"  M}^  brother,  I  know,  received  much  help  and 
blessing  from  him,  as  did  many  other  young  men  who 
have  gone  forth  girded  and  strengthened  by  his  teach- 
ing to  preach  the  Word.  Just  the  last  day  Dr.  Dwi- 
nell  was  out  he  met  Mr.  G.,  and  asked  him  among  the 
last  things  '  to  give  Mr.  Dorward  Jus  love  when  we 
write, '  and  I  am  sure  my  brother  will  find  much  com- 
fort in  the  message.  Mrs.  S.  C.  Goddard. 

"Oakland." 

Among  the  parishioners  of  Dr.  Dwinell  for  several 
years  was  one  who,  for  a  season,  was  a  member  of  his 
church,  and  who,  after  a  course  of  study  at  the  Pacific 
Seminar^',  became  minister  of  the  Unitarian  Society  of 
Sacramento. 

Upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Dwinell,  this  pastor.  Rev.  C. 


2IO  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINKLL. 

P.  Mass2y,  Jr.,  delivered  to  his  congregation  a  memo- 
rial discourse,  full  of  tender  reminivScence  and  loving 
appreciation,  which  he  entitled  "A  Tribute  of  Friend- 
ship to  Character."  One  extract  has  appeared  else- 
\\here  in  this  Memorial.  A  few  others  are  gladly  given 
a  place  here.  "  There  are  rnen,  "  he  said.  "  whom  no 
conventions  of  society,  whom  no  restrictions  of  party 
or  creed,  can  absolutely  constrain,  and  who,  because  of 
the  firm  principles  which  steady  their  minds,  and  of 
the  lofty  ideals  which  inspire  their  souls,  become  com- 
petent and  trusted  advisers  in  all  the  graver  experi- 
ences of  life. 

"Such  an  one  was  the  late  Dr.  Dwinell, — a  man 
whom  his  church  and  even  his  community  did  not  con- 
tain, for  the  influence  of  his  words  went  out  not  only 
up  and  down  this  coast,  but  penetrated  to  those  circles 
of  thought  in  the  older  communities  where  scholarship 
discusses  the  profoundest  problems  that  can  engage  the 
attention  of  the  human  mind. 

"  It  was  soon  after  my  coming  to  Sacramento  that 
I  became  acquainted  with  this  gentleman.  The  ac- 
quaintance ripened  during  the  subsequent  years  of  his 
residence  here,  and  had  much  to  do  with  the  shaping 
of  my  own  after-career.  *  *  *  Xhe  genius  of  the 
man,  the  dignity  of  his  carriage,  the  charm  of  his 
scholarship,  the  righteousness  of  his  purpose — all  at- 
tracted me,  and  I  soon  began  to  count  as  red-letter  days 
in  my  experience  those  upon  which  some  interview 
was  enjoyed,  and  intimate  exchange  was  had  of  the 
thoughts  nearest  our  souls.  *  *  *  Whatever  his 
theology  was,  we  knew  we  could  trust  him  ;  that  his 
word  was  his  bond  ;  that  the  friend  who  needed  his  as- 
sistance he  would  not  desert  ;  that  his  life  was  pure 
and  high,  and  that  the  influence  of  it  went  out  to  make 


"appreciated    BV    others.  211 

first  his  household,  and  then  his  church,  and  then  his 
city,  better  for  his  presence. 

"  The  key-note  of  his  character  was  heavenly  faith- 
fulness, and  it  covered  all  the  landscape  of  his  home 
life,  as  well  as  his  public  life,  with  moral  and  spiritual 
bloom.  He  was  a  man  of  calm  and  tranquil  mien, 
with  that  high-bred  courtesy  which  always  shows  it- 
self in  quiet  dignity  of  speech  and  bearing.  He  had  a 
kind  and  sympathetic  nature,  and  possessed  in  abun- 
dant measure  those  rare  graces  that  naturally  grow  in 
the  soil  of  such  a  heart.  He  was  as  true  as  steel,  and 
his  simple  word  was  equivalent  to  the  most  solemn 
vow.  He  was  a  teacher  and  preacher  of  truth  and 
righteousness,  not  only  in  word,  but  in  deed.  His 
whole  life  was  one  of  fragrant  beauty,  love  and  service; 
and  as  the  sunset  came,  and  the  twilight  dropped 
down,  it  was  but  the  harbinger  of  a  bright  coming 
morning — the  prophecy  of  a  fast-approaching  dawn. 
To  this  saintly  soul  that  had  reached  its  three-score 
and  ten  years  there  had  come  no  withering  nor  blight; 
but  onh'  richness  and  ripeness.  He  was  translated  in 
the  plentitude  of  his  powers.  It  was  life's  insensible 
completeness,  not  a  dwarfing  of  nature,  but  its  perfec- 
tion ;  not  a  fading,  but  are-flourishing.  What  wonder 
that  the  autumnal  glories  were  decked  with  a  smile  of 
welcome,  and  the  solemn  rustle  was  full  of  heavenly 
music!     *     *     *" 

"  Let  us  thank  God  for  the  sacred  testimony  of  such 
a  life^-a  life  that  reveals  the  celestial,  the  realm  of 
perfect  bliss,  the  land  of  everlasting  joy  !  " 

"  Death  to  such  is  transition.     Hope  fledges  for  flight, 
Love  bursts  into  transport,  Faith  swells  into  sight  ; 
Prayer  glides  into  rapture,  all  sighing  shall  cease  ; 
And  Patience  shall  melt  to  a  radiance  of  peace. 
"San  Francisco.  Mrs..  Sarah  B.  Cooper." 


212  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

"  During  the  twenty  years  in  which  he  was  pastor  of 
the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Sacramento,  his 
life  was  a  noble  record  of  duty  carefully  and  lovingly 
done,  of  wise  teaching  of  the  truth,  simple  and  strong, 
told  with  dignity,  eloquence  and  fervor.  *  *  * 
Never,  during  the  years  of  Dr.  Dwinell's  pastorate,  did 
he  fail  to  give  rich,  strong  mental  and  spiritual  food  to 
those  who  came  to  the  Sabbath  feast  ;  none  who  hun- 
gered and  thirsted  for  meat  and  drink,  for  wise  and 
spiritual  counsel,  for  Christian  help  and  uplifting,  ever 
went  away  unsatisfied,  or  with  the  vague,  restless  feel- 
ing that  they  had  not  found  what  they  craved  ;  but 
were,  on  the  contrary,  filled,  and  that  abundantly.     * 

*  *  After  all  is  said,  only  those  who  lived  under 
Dr.  Dwinell's  beneficent  teaching  and  widely-dissem- 
inated influence  during  those  years  can  know  how 
perfect  was  his  life  in  that  special  sphere  of  action,  how 
large,  how  full,  how  faithful  was  his  ministry,  how 
complete  his  forgetfulness  of  self,  his  absorption  of 
anything  like  a  selfish,  personal  ambition,  in  the  lofty 
desire  to  preach  God's  truth  as  it  was  committed  to 
liim.  Miss  Carrie  Warren. 

"Alameda,  Cal." 

' '  His  reputation  as  a  scholar,  thinker,  and  writer 
was  wider  than  his  own  denomination.  In  fineness  of 
temper,  breadth  and  catholicity  of  judgment,  and  in 
well-bred  courtesy,  he  w^as  the  model  of  a  Christian 
gentleman."     San  Francisco  Daily  Bulletin, 

(Editorial). 

"The  death  of  Dr.  Dwinell,  so  long  a  resident  of 
Sacramento,  removes  one  of  those  thoroughly  upright 


"appreciated  by  others.  213 

and  pure  men  whose  lives  are  examples  of  good,  and 
guides  to  all  humanity. " 

Sacramento  Daily  Record-Union, 

(Editorial). 

"His  influence  was  always  for  good,  and  when  the 
pages  of  his  life  are  turned,  there  wnll  be  found  no  spot 
to  mar  or  deface  them. " 

Sacramento  Leader,  (Editorial). 

"  He  was  a  man  singularly  beloved  and  admired." 
Oakland  Daily  Enquirer,  (Editorial). 

I-'rom  Victoria  Institute,  London,  England. 

" Madam  : 

"lam  desired  by  the  Council  to  express  the  regret 
with  which  they  have  learned  of  the  loss  of  one  of 
this  Institute's  specially-valued  members,  Dr.  Dwinell, 
the  value  of  whose  work  in  the  cause  of  truth  first 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  Council,  and  caused  them 
to  invite  him  to  become  a  member  of  this  Societj^ 
Although  they  may  not  otherwise  intrude,  they  ven- 
ture to  at  least  join  with  those  who  respect  and  honor 
his  memory. 

"  I  am,  Madam, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  Francis  Petrie, 
"  Honorary  Secretary  to  the  Council." 

From  Berkley   Club,  Oakland,  Cal. 
"It   is   widely    felt  that  in  the  death  of  Dr.  I.  E. 
Dwinell    California  lost  a  foremost  scholar,  educator, 
clerg>'man  and  citizen,  who  came  to  the  State  twenty- 
seven  years  ago,    already  one  of  the  leading  men  of 


214  ISRAEL    ED.SON    DWINELL. 

thought  in  the  New  England  pulpit,  and  who  main- 
tained at  our  capital  city,  as  well  as  in  his  later  resi- 
dence at  Oakland,  that  deserved  reputation. 

' '  The  Berkelej^  Club  has  reason  to  remember  him  as 
punctual  in  attendance,  courteous  and  friendl}^  in  bear- 
ing; when  he  opened  discussion,  as  thorough,  pains- 
taking, original  in  conception  and  in  style  ;  when  he 
followed  discussion  as  penetrating  to  the  heart  of  the 
subjects  and  suggestive  in  his  comments,  always  en- 
deavoring to  see  all  themes  in  the  light  of  their  funda- 
mental principles  ;  though  curious  and  searching  as  to 
the  secondary  causes  in  processes  which  make  the  world 
seem  a  continuous  chain,  ^-et  reverent  and  tender  in 
the  habitual  recognition  of  Him  in  whom  he  felt  that 
all  things  have  their  being  ;  in  communion  with  whom 
he  sought  purit}'  of  heart,  and  in  whose  Redeeming 
lyove  he  rested  with  the  peace  of  a  child. 

"  Recognizing  our  personal  loss  in  his  absence  from 
us,  we  express  our  S3nnpathy  with  those  who  miss  him 
in  the  closer  circle  and  dearer  ties  of  home. 

"  George  Mooar, 
"Charles  Woodbury, 

"Committee." 

"  Pacific  Theological  Seminary, 

"Oakland,  Cal.,  Sept.  5,  1890. 
"  Dear  Mrs.  Dwinell  : 

"At  this,  the  beginning  of  another  session  of  the 
Seminary,  we  are  about  to  take  up  our  studies,  and, 
in  a  very  peculiar  manner,  feel  the  inexpressible  loss 
we  have  sustained  in  the  removal  of  our  late  dear  Pro- 
fessor Dwinell. 

' '  God  has  been  very  kind  to  the  Seminary  in  sending 
another  to  take  up  the  work,  but  that  does  not  lessen 


"appreciated  by  others.  215 

our  sense  of  loss,  nor  fill  the  place  in  our  hearts  which 
he  held,  not  only  as  a  teacher  but  as  a  friend.  We 
trust  that  we  may  honor  his  memory  by  carrying  out 
those  instructions  we  were  privileged  to  receive  from 
his  lips,  and  find  in  imitating  him  a  greater  incentive 
to  a  more  Christ-like,  self-denjdng  life. 

' '  And  let  us  express  our  sympath}-  with  you  in  5'our 
bereavement,  which  we  feel  to  be  ours  also. 

"  God  alone  can  wipe  the  tears  from  our  eyes,  heal 
our  heart-wounds,  and  make  up  to  us  for  our  loss,  un- 
til the  glad  day  of  re-union  dawns.  This  we  are  per- 
suaded He  will  do,  and  so  answer  our  prayers  on  your 

behalf. 

Very  sincerely  3'ours, 

Robert  W.  Newlands, 

Chas.  L.  Eby, 

In  the  name  of  the  Students  of  the 

Pacific  Theological  Seminar}'. 

Resolutions  passed  by  the  President  and 

Board  of  Trustees  of  The  Pacific 

Theological  Seminary'. 

W/iej'-eas,  Since  our  meeting  in  May  last,  it  has 
pleased  God,  in  his  infinite  wisdom,  to  remove  from 
this  life  our  brother.  Rev.  Israel  E.  Dwinell,  D.D.,  a 
member  of  this  Board  : 

Resolved,  That  we  put  upon  record  our  sincere  and 
heartfelt  sorrow  at  his  loss  :  making  note  of  the  fact 
that  this  is  the  first  instance  in  which  a  member  of 
this  Board  has  been  called  away  by  death. 

Resolved,  furtlier.  That  it  was  through  his  agency 
in  large  measure,  together  with  that  of  others  equally 
interested,  that  the  Pacific  Theological  Seminary  was 
planned  and  established. 


2l6  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

Resolved,  That  as  a  member  of  this  Board  for  more 
than  twenty  j-ears  and  from  its  very  organization,  he 
has  been  scrupulously  attentive  to  all  the  interests  of 
the  institution,  active  in  securing  endowments,  patient 
and  thorough  in  studying  and  transacting  its  business, 
discriminating  and  careful  as  to  the  doctrinal  views 
held  and  taught  in  the  Seminary,  unselfish  and  untir- 
ing in  work  for  it,  and  at  all  times  hopeful  of  its 
enlargement,  permanence  and  growing  usefulness. 

Resolved,  that  in  remembering  the  Seminary  in  his 
will,*  he  has  borne  most  emphatic  testimony  to  his  love 
for  the  institution,  and  to  his  sense  of  its  great  impor- 
tance. 

Resolved,  That  we  extend  our  heartfelt  sympathy 
to  his  bereaved  and  afflicted  family,  and  assure  them 
that  we  largely  share  in  their  sorrow. 

Resolutions  passed  by  the  Upper  Bay 
Association. 

Resolved,  That  while  recognizing  the  wisdom  and 
love  no  less  than  the  sovereignty  of  the  great  Head  of 
the  Church,  the  tidings  of  the  decease  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
I.  E.  Dwinell  fall  upon  the  Association  as  a  great  sor- 
row. 

The  nobleness  of  his  personal  character  and  the  pur- 
ity of  his  life  have  endeared  him  to  all  who  knew  him, 
and  his  acknowledged  intellectual  and  spiritual  power, 
as  scholar,  teacher  and  orator,  has  made  him  beyond 
as  well  as  within  his  own  state  and  denomination  a 
trusted  Christian  leader,  whose  loss  will  be  deeply  felt 
throughout  the  country. 

Resolved,  That  we  respectfully  tender  to  his  be- 
reaved famil}"  our  deepest  sympathy. 

*  The  sum  of  Ji.ooo.oo  for  a  permanent  Library  Fund. 


"appreciated  by  others.  217 

Resolutions  passed  by  General  Association  of 
California,  October,  1S90. 

The  eminent  character,  high  position,  and  valuable 
services  of  the  late  Dr.  Dwinell  deserve  a  Memorial 
prepared  with  superior  care,  and  put  in  a  permanent 
form.  But  it  is  not  fitting  that  the  first  meeting  of 
the  General  Association  of  California  since  his  death 
should  be  dissolved,  without  putting  on  record  some 
recognition  of  his  worth,  especially  as  he  was  related 
to  our  churches. 

He  came  into  our  State  after  he  had  already  gained 
in  Massachusetts,  by  a  pastorate  of  fourteen  years,  a 
high  degree  of  confidence.  At  once  he  took — indeed, 
he  had  long  taken — the  interests  of  these  churches  in- 
to his  heart.  His  heart  was  large;  his  vision  of  the 
mission  and  opportunity  which  the  Kingdom  of  Christ 
has  here  was  large.  In  his  own  church  at  Sacramento 
he  was  attentive  to  every  detail  of  his  pastoral  care. 
Yet,  when  after  twenty  years  of  servnce  he  resigned 
his  charge,  it  was  said  not  merely  that  his  particular 
congregation  was  bereaved,  but  that  vSacraniento  had 
lost  its  chief  citizen.  For  though  our  brother  was  a 
theologian,  and  of  a  strenuous  type,  yet  his  Christian 
doctrine  made  him  all  the  more  alive  to  everj"  subject 
that  concerns  the  better  life  of  men.  At  the  same 
time,  as  befitted  his  calling,  the  emphasis  of  his  activ- 
ity was  spent  along  the  lines  of  the  denomination  with 
which  he  was  connected.  He  was  a  Puritan  in  his 
conception  of  organized  Christianity.  Catholic  in  his 
sympathies,  yet  he  ever  stood  for  the  characteristic 
features  of  our  free  polity.  But  his  distinctive  service 
consisted  in  strengthening  and  fastening  the  ties  of 
fellowship,  and  the  last  paper  from  his  hand  was  de- 

15 


2l8  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

voted  to  a  careful  statement  of  the  principles  of  that 
fellowship. 

He  was  ardently  and  broadly  interested  in  every  one 
of  the  lines  of  our  denominational  and  missionar)- 
effort.  More  than  anj^  other  one  of  our  California 
ministry  was  he  influential  in  the  general  convocations 
of  our  churches  at  the  East.  He  represented  us  in 
most  of  the  National  Councils,  and  on  recent  notable 
occasions  at  the  sessions  of  the  American  Board. 

Among  the  things  which  lay  most  on  his  heart  was 
the  Higher  Christian  Education.  At  the  General  As- 
sociation of  1865  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
which  advised  the  formation  of  the  Theological  Semin- 
ary, and  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  which  drew 
up  the  original  constitution  for  it,  that  was  adopted 
the  following  j^ear  at  Sacramento.  He  was  then  made 
a  Trustee,  and  remained  such  to  his  death;  and, 
surely,  his  fellow  Professors  and  his  Students  bear 
united  testimony  to  his  hallowed  devotion  as  Profes- 
sor during  these  later,  alas,  too  brief  years.  But  his 
interest  in  the  Higher  Education  deepened  into  the 
intense  conviction  that  the  Congregational  Churches 
should,  in  some  way,  establish  and  endow  a  college. 
Meanwhile,  he  had  been  most  faithfully  sharing  and 
leading  iu  the  plans  b}^  which  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Mills  were 
building  the  college  for  women  that  bears  their  name. 

The  services  which  Dr.  Dwinell  rendered  to  these 
<:auses  were  the  services  of  a  great  man.  His  mind  was 
that  of  a  philosopher,  which  cannot  rest  till  it  sees  all 
things  in  their  principles.  At  the  same  time  he  had 
the  genius  of  industr}'  and  of  perseverance,  which  is 
willing  to  take  minute  pains  in  the  gathering  of  data. 
No  matter  what  subject  might  be  introduced  for  dis- 
cussion, those  who  knew  him  expected  that  when  he 


"appreciated  by  others."  219 

spoke  the  subject  would  be  opened  from  a  wider  view, 
and  in  some  special  illumination.  If  his  doctrinal 
views  seemed  strenuous,  and  in  these  later  days  have 
been  strenuously  maintained,  j^et  they  were  main- 
tained not  in  the  zeal  of  a  partisan,  nor  even  in  the 
logical  consistency  of  a  mere  S3-stem,  but  because,  in 
his  sight,  the  very  laws  of  thought  and  the  very  life  of 
the  written  Word  required  it.  How  admirably  he  has 
set  forth  his  positions  many  will  remember,  who  lis- 
tened to  his  vivid  language  in  public  address,  and  who 
read  his  lucid  papers  in  the  various  journals  and 
reviews. 

Most  of  all,  we  would  recall  how  the  gentleness  of 
the  Divine  Love  had  given  him  the  greatness  of  char- 
acter, the  fine  sense  of  duty,  the  courtesy  of  the  Chris- 
tian gentleman  and  brother,  the  life  that  is  hid  with 

Christ  in  God. 

Geo.  Mooar, 

For  Committee. 


We  leave  thee  with  a  trust  serene 

Which  Time,  nor  Change,  nor  Death  can  move  ; 
While  with  thy  childlike  faith  we  lean 

On  Him  whose  dearest  name  is  Love." 

Whiitier. 


SERMONS. 


*  CHRISTIANITY     A    RELIGION    OF 
EXPECTANCY. 


[Concerning  this  sermon,  it  was  said  in  the  Congregationa- 
list,  editorially,  Nov.  i8,  1875  :  "It  seems  to  us  as  hardly  too 
great  praise  to  say  of  it,  that  it  deserves  to  go  into  the  per- 
manent literature  of  the  Church,  by  the  side  of  the  late  Pres. 
Wayland's  famous  discourse  upon  The  Moral  Dignity  of  the 
Missionary  Enterprise."] 


''For  ye  are  not  as  yet  come  to  the  rest  and  to  the  inheritance, 
which  the  Lord  your  God  giveth  you.'" — Dent.  12 :  g. 

The  attitude  of  Christianity  is  that  of  expectancy. 
It  is  not  a  religion  that  looks  backward.  Its  standards, 
its  ideals,  its  Golden  Age,  are  not  in  the  past,  but  in 
the  future.  This  is  a  peculiarity  of  revealed  religion 
in  every  age.  The  patriarch  was  trained  to  look  into 
the  dim  distance,  to  a  better  time  coming.  Moses  rose 
higher,  and  saw  more  distinctl3^  but  his  eye  was  still 
on  the  future.  Isaiah  ascended  to  a  higher  point  of 
outlook,  but  looked  forward.  Even  Christ,  when  he 
came  and  disclosed  the  nattire  of  his  mission,  taught 
that  it  was  not  his  object  to  lull  and  satisfy  human  ex- 
pectations, but  to  arouse  them  still  more  ;  and  He  lift- 
ed a  veil  disclosing  a  higher  glory  in  the  ages  to  follow. 
There  was  nothing  in  his  teachings  or  life  calculated 

♦Preached  before  the  General  Association  of  California,  at  Sau  Francisco, 
Oct.  5,  1875. 


224  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

to  convey  the  impression  that  He  regarded  that  period 
as  the  consummation  of  human  history,  and  that  there 
was  nothing  for  mankind  in  the  coming  age  to  do  but 
to  look  back  to  it,  and  linger  under  its  shadows,  lament- 
ing its  evanescence,  and  delaying  as  long  as  possible 
its  vanishing  glo.y.  Rather,  He  himself  stood  forth  a 
greater  prophet  than  all,  wand  in  hand,  pointing  his 
disciples  and  the  world  to  a  higher  future  and  a  nobler 
age.  The  Evangelists  and  Apostles  in  their  writings 
catch  the  same  spirit  of  expectancy  and  off-look,  and 
urge  the  church  to  prepare  for  the  full-day  splendors 
of  the  kingdom  of  God  on  earth,  and  the  second  coming 
of  Christ.  They  hold  up,  indeed,  the  earthly,  histori- 
cal mission  of  Jesus  as  grand  ;  grand  in  itself,  but  far 
more  grand  as  explaining  and  justifying  the  higher 
expectations  to  which  it  points  forward,  and  for  which 
it  furnishes  the  ground. 

This  habit  of  revelation,  of  leading  good  people  to 
look  to  the  future,  not  to  the  past,  is  a  habit  that  runs 
through  its  books,  and  the  ages  covered  by  its  recitals. 
Adam  gazed  vaguely  forward  for  an  unknown  deliv- 
erer ;  and  the  last  writer  in  the  Bible,  in  the  last  book, 
on  the  last  page,  closes  the  Christian  revelation,  gaz- 
ing into  the  future,  and  saymg  :  "  Even  so,  come,  Lord 
Jesus  ' '  ;  and  yet  he  had  the  historical  Christ,  and  the 
great  redemption,  and  the  most  divinely-seeded  epoch 
of  history  behind  htm. 

THE   SAME   IN    EVERY   AGE. 

The  passage  which  I  have  selected  for  my  text  pre- 
sents the  host  of  God  of  the  remote  Mosaic  age  in  this 
attitude.  But  it  is  their  attitude  in  everj^  age  ;  and  the 
text  will  apply  to  them  now  as  well  as  then.  Taking 
it,  then,  as  a  representative  text,  true  of  the  genius  of 


SERMONS.  225 

revealed  religion,  true  of  the  spirit  of  Christianity,  we 
are  reminded  in  it  that  the  object  of  pious  admiration 
and  zeal  at  the  present  time  is  not  in  the  past,  but  in 
the  future  ;  that  our  mission  as  followers  of  Christ  is  not 
to  recover  a  vanishing  good,  but  to  gird  up  ourselves, 
and  go  forward  to  a  coming  good  ;  that  Christianitj^ 
has  its  priceless  blessing  still  before  the  world,  and  not 
behind  it ;  "  for  ye  are  not  as  j^et  come  to  the  rest  and 
to  the  inheritance,  which  the  Lord  your  God  giveth 
you.  "  This  is  language  to  persons  on  a  march,  a  great 
host  under  marching  regimen,  moving,  or  expecting 
at  any  moment  to  move,  out  of  present  quarters  on  to 
advanced  positions,  taking  with  them  what  they  have 
gained  b}^  experience,  and  their  goods,  and  leaving 
what  is  useless.  They  may  camp  at  times,  and  build 
tabernacles,  and  linger  on  the  wa}^ ;  but  the  blessing 
on  which  they  have  set  their  souls  is  before  them,  and 
soon  comes  the  summons  for  a  multitudinous  move- 
ment, and  there  is  an  advance  all  along  the  line.  Man)'' 
things  are  thrown  away  ;  but  seldom  anything  valua- 
ble ;  seldom  anything  that  is  not  better  left  than  car- 
ried ;  for  it  is  not  a  retreat,  but  an  advance  under  a 
divine  leader. 

A    MISTAKEN    OPINION. 

This  is,  indeed,  verj'  different  from  a  common  opin- 
ion. Many  persons  imagine  that  Christianity  is  carry- 
ing a  standard  that  points  towards  the  back  ages. 
They  think  it  is  seeking  an  object  that  belongs  to  the 
past,  from  which  mankind  are  slowh' retreating,  which 
is  becoming  more  and  more  remote,  and  looks  more 
and  more  obscure  and  insignificant,  like  a  railroad  sta- 
tion on  the  level  plains,  at  which  you  gaze  as  you  re- 
cede from  it,  standing  on  the  platform  of  the  last  car, 


226  ISRAEL    EIXSON    DWINEIvL. 

till  the  parallel  rails  seem  to  run  together,  and  the  town 
becomes  a  speck  on  the  horizon,  or  a  film  of  dust  float- 
ing in  the  air  near  you,  and  you  rub  your  eyes  to  tell 
which.  So  they  regard  the  objects  of  Christianity,  as 
settling  down,  and  vanishing  in  the  distance,  to  be 
found  soon  only  on  the  guide-books  and  historical  rec- 
ords ;  having  present  influence  only  by  virtue  of  tradi- 
tion, education,  association,  and  a  certain  tenacity  of 
life  which  keeps  a  begun  faith  of  mankind  from  dying 
out  when  its  uses  are  over ;  and  to  be  seen  now  only 
by  those  on  the  rear  of  the  train,  and  looking  back.  It 
is  a  great  mistake,  and  arises  from  an  utter  misconcep- 
tion of  the  spirit  and  genius  of  Christianity.  Chris- 
tianity is  looking  forward.  It  is  out  in  front  of  the 
train,  pointing  the  advanced  disciples,  pointing  the 
church,  pointing  the  world,  ahead,  to  the  unattained 
and  incomparable  blessings,  and  saying  ever  :  "  For- 
ward ;  on,  on." 

Would  you  look  into  this  matter  ?  Would  you  con- 
sider some  of  the  particulars  ?  I  will  specify  certain 
points  in  which  Christianity  as  existing  among  men  is 
leading  them  from  its  own  past  up  to  a  higher  future, 
and  holding  before  mankind  its  own  sublimer  objects, 
to  arouse  their  faith  and  devotedness. 

THE   WORKS    OF   CHRISTIANITY. 

Take,  then,  the  zvorks  of  Christianity.  Is  she  con- 
tent wnth  what  has  been  done,  the  enterprises  under- 
taken in  her  name,  the  blessings  her  followers  have 
bestowed  on  society,  and  the  range  of  nations  among 
which  they  have  scattered  them  ?  By  no  means.  She 
does  not  feel  that  her  work  is  done,  or  that  she  is  put- 
ting a  finishing  touch  to  it  here  andthere,  or  repeating 
a  dead  routine  of  inherited  labors.  Her  w^ork  rises  be- 
fore her  as  a  vision, — stupendous,  urgent,  grand  ;  and 


SERMONS.  227 

her  cry  to  her  followers  is  :  "  Onward  to  the  neglected 
masses,  the  half-Christianized  population,  the  unap- 
proached  districts.  Bring  the  people  to  Christ.  Give 
them  light.  Raise  them  to  the  Christian  tone.  Carry 
the  gospel  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  make  its  might 
and  beauty  felt  wherever  it  goes."  And  Christian 
people  in  making  these  advances  are  recasting  from 
time  to  time,  their  methods,  and  adopting  new  ones. 
Some  of  the  old  work,  also,  thej^  are  no  longer  doing, 
or  doing  with  less  energy,  preparing,  under  the  fresh 
divine  inspiration,  for  the  new  work  to  which  they 
have  a  higher  call.  So  Christians  are  ever  marching, 
or  liable  to  be  marching,  out  of  old  service  up  to  new 
and  higher,  which  God  keeps  before  them. 

SOCIAL   IDEALS. 

Turn  to  the  social  ideals  of  Christianitj'.  Where  are 
they  ?  In  the  vision  which  dawns  upon  us,  under  the 
influence  and  teachings  which  she  inspires,  are  objects 
such  as  these  :  homes  for  all,  and  all  homes  pure  and 
loving  ;  education,  in  which  intellect,  heart  and  body 
are  proportionably  cared  for  and  cultured  ;  a  reign  of 
medicine  in  which  there  is  no  quackery  ;  justice  in 
whose  ermine  is  no  stain,  in  whose  knowledge  and 
penetration  no  deficiency  ;  legislation  at  once  intelli- 
gent and  incorrupt ;  a  press  competent  to  handle  the 
great  questions  of  social  life  and  po  itical  economy, 
now  so  often  treated  with  flippancy  and  shallowness  ; 
a  literature  healthful,  inspiring,  and  nourishing  the 
life  of  the  nation,  and  no  other  than  such  literature  ;  a 
public  preferring  to  be  fed  with  truth  to  being  stirred 
with  sensation  ;  a  church  in  which  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
reigns,  and  all  other  spirits  are  cast  out ;  a  kingdom  of 
Christ  on  earth,  in  which  all  Christians  live  in  unity 
and  peace  ;  societj-  bound  together  with  bonds  of  love. 


228  ISRAEL    ICDSON    UWINELL. 

and  illustrating  the  principles  of  truth  and  righteous- 
ness ;  all  swords  beaten  into  plough-shares,  and  spears 
into  pruning  hooks.  Now  tJiese  ideals  of  society  all 
loom  up  in  the  future.  Christianit}'  points  forward  to 
them  as  we  look  towards  the  New  Jerusalem  "  coming 
down  from  God  out  of  heaven."  We  do  not  see  them 
as  we  look  back  towards  the  Old  Jerusalem,  or  any 
favored  psriod  in  the  past.  They  are  not  among  the 
fulfillments  of  any  patristic  or  apostolic  age.  And 
under  her  call  we  are,  here  and  there,  leaving  the  old 
attempts  to  overtake  them,  and  pressing  in  new  direc- 
tions towards  the  grand  conceptions  and  inspirations. 
The  Christian  world,  restless  untier  the  half- successes, 
half-failures,  of  the  bj^-gone  time,  and  impatient  to  be 
off  after  the  mark  of  the  higher  calling  beckoning  to 
it,  is  leaving,  indeed,  some  things  that  have  been  hon- 
ored of  God  in  their  day,  eager  to  take  short  cuts  to 
the  end. 

MORAL    STANDARD    OF    CHRISTIANITY. 

Let  us  glance  at  the  moral  standard  cf  Christianity. 
Where  is  that  ?  Is  the  ethical  system  of  our  religion 
behind  the  age  ?  Is  it  something  that  has  been  out- 
growni,  as  the  world  has  advanced  in  knowledge, 
science,  the  practical  arts,  and  the  multiplication  of 
comforts  and  elegancies  ?  Has  the  moral  code  proved 
too  sluggish  and  slow-footed,  and  fallen  behind  an  ad- 
vancing and  outrunning  civilization  ?  No,  no  ;  a 
thousand  times  no.  The  very  distance,  often  painful 
and  discouraging,  between  the  moral  precepts  of 
Christianity  and  the  practices  of  Christians,  shows  the 
unapproachable  nobility  of  the  code,  and  its  great  dis- 
tance in  advance  of  the  church  as  well  as  the  world. 
It  rises  before  the  age,  and  lures  and  draws  it  on,  lead- 
ing the  way  to  the  richer  coming  of  the  Lord  of  right- 


SERMONS.  229 

eousness,  as  the  star  rose  before  the  Magi,  and  led 
them  to  the  infant  Jesus.  It  is  inimitable  in  its  reaches 
of  truth,  justice,  humility,  virtue,  self-control,  brother- 
hood, charity  ;  and  no  one  despises  it,  or  speaks  slight- 
ingly of  it,  without  betraying  his  own  love  of  license 
and  degeneracy.  When  the  world  comes  up  to  it  and 
practices  it,  the  millennial  age,  all  the  ethic  good  that 
prophets  have  sighted  and  poets  sung,  will  have  come. 
Towards  that  standard  the  Christian  world  is  sum- 
moned to  advance,  and  is  advancing — not  regularly, 
not  with  equal  steps,  not  with  brilliant  speed  ;  with 
advances  and  retreats,  as  the  tide  comes  in  ;  but 
grandly,  taking  the  centuries  as  mile-posts.  At  the 
same  time  it  is  slowly  passing  away  from  some  of  the 
forms  and  methods  in  which  it  had  formerty  sought  to 
embody  its  moral  convictions,  and  adopting  those 
nearer  its  present  goal.  It  is  leaving  the  old  attain- 
ments, and  seeking  the  ever-living  principles  lying  in 
the  new  fields.  The  great  changes  in  the  circum- 
stances and  conditions  of  modern  life  have  introduced 
many  new  ethical  problems  in  government,  political 
economy  and  social  life,  putting  the  old  applications 
and  procedures  in  man}'  cases  at  fault,  and  making 
necessary  quite  a  new  adjustment  of  principles  ;  but 
the  old  moral  principles — which  are  also  ever  new,  as 
sunlight  is  new,  and  truth  is  new — are  sufficient,  and 
when  our  civilization  comes  up  to  the  point  of  apply- 
ing them,  all  will  be  well,  and  we  shall  be  far  ahead. 

CIIRISTIAX    DOCTRINE. 

Now  how  is  it  with  CJiristian  doctrine  ?  It  is  often 
freely  asserted  that  this  is  behind  the  times.  And  I 
do  not  deny  that  there  have  been,  or  that  there  are, 
doctrines  held  by  Christians  that  are  behind  the  times. 
But  what  is  true  Christian  doctrine  ?     It  is  the  result- 


230  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

ant  of  the  teachings  of  Scripture  in  relation  to  truth 
and  duty,  an  emanation  in  scientific  form  from  the  les- 
sons of  Revelation,  of  all  it  contains  about  God  and 
man,  time  and  eternit}',  human  want,  duty,  privilege, 
destiny.  Now  this  uprising  and  embodiment  in  exact 
statement  of  the  very  soul  of  Revelation,  this  genuine 
orthodoxy,  is  ever  far  before  the  church,  above  it, 
floating  as  an  apparition  over  the  Bible,  too  grand  and 
divine  to  be  fully  and  perfectly  grasped  and  mastered 
by  any  single  mind,  or  by  the  church  in  an}'  single 
age.  Creeds  are  not  true  orthodoxy.  Ecclesiastical 
formulas  are  not.  The}-  are  index-fingers,  pointing  in 
a  poor  human  wa}^  towards  it.  Orthodox}',  the  di- 
vine thing  itself,  is  yonder,  where  the  Bible  is,  ahead 
of  the  church,  ahead  of  interpreters,  ahead  of  theolo- 
gians ;  and  they  are,  from  age  to  age,  pressing  on  to 
come  up  to  it — some  reluctantly,  some  by  pressure  of 
divine  leadings,  some  of  alacrit}'  and  good  will,  but  in 
weakness.  Written  creeds  as  attempts  to  grasp  this 
divine  orthodoxy  are  human  necessities,  not  necessarily 
or  often  bad,  not  bad  in  themselves  at  all.  They  are 
good  when  carried  forward  by  those  who  hold  them  to 
their  source  and  interpreted  in  a  transparent  way, 
when  read  in  the  divine  blaze  of  the  inspired  truth 
under  them.  He  who  affects  contempt  for  them  and 
ridicules  them,  betrays  his  own  doctrinal  unjointed- 
ness,  and  mental  looseness  and  superficialit3\  But 
creeds  that  the  holders  have  suffered  to  slough  off 
from  Revelation  and  fall  behind  it,  and  which  they 
treat  as  having  an  entity  and  worth  of  their  own,  and 
cherish  as  an  end,  instead  of  regarding  as  hints  and  a 
ielp,  are  unprofitable  and  lead  to  looking  backwards. 
Of  course,  some  of  the  old  formulated  statements  on 
points  of  doctrine  the  church  is  abandoning  —  not  the 


SERMONS.  231 

old  truths  under  them,  but  the  old  statements  ;  into 
others  she  is  putting  new  meanings  ;  and  on  other 
points  she  is  in  the  act  of  slowly  stammering  out  new 
statements  to  meet  her  advancing  conceptions  of 
Scripture.  She  looks,  indeed,  at  the  Apostles'  Creed, 
the  Athanasian  Creed,  the  Westminster  Catechism, 
the  Thirty-nine  Articles,  the  Savoy  Confession,  the 
Boston  Declaration  ;  but  she  does  not  look  back  to 
them,  and  rest  her  vision  there.  She  looks  at  them  as 
she  looks  forward,  and  reads  through  them,  and  under 
them,  and  beyond  them,  and  above  them,  the  far 
richer  and  diviner  theolog}'  of  Revelation,  using  them 
as  helps  and  hints,  not  as  the  exhaustive  and  perfect 
statement.  And  so  the  genius  of  orthodox}-  lives  on 
in  the  church,  and  maintains  its  substantial  continuity 
and  identity  from  age  to  age,  slowly  advancing  towards 
the  rounded  and  S5^mmetrical  and  just  orthodoxy 
which  rises  in  idea  from  Scripture.  So  the  great  doc- 
trines of  depravity  and  guilt,  inspiration,  probation, 
redemption,  pardon,  new  life,  prayer,  the  divinity  of 
Christ,  the  Trinit}^  heaven  and  hell,  underlie  the 
Christian  faith  of  all  the  ages,  and  put  them  in  one 
line  with  the  marching  theologj-. 

CENTRAL   FIGURE   OF   CHRISTIANITY. 

Again,  how  is  it  with  the  central  figure  in  the 
Christian  faith — tJie  Divine  Lord  and  Saviour  ?  Does 
Christianity  merely  call  her  votaries  to  serve  a  histor- 
ical Christ,  to  take  up  with  a  Christ  of  dead  genera-* 
tions,  to  add  themselves  to  the  end  of  a  darkening 
procession  coming  down  from  the  sepulcher,  to  stand 
and  look  with  wistful  eyes  towards  the  receding  glo- 
ries that  shone  around  Bethlehem,  Capernaum,  Beth- 
any, the    Temple,  and    the  Mount    of  Olives,  going 


232  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

backward  through  the  world  in  order  to  look  as  long 
as  possible  towards  Christ,  and  feeling  that  they  are 
ever  farther  from  their  Light  ?  Never,  never  !  It 
furnishes  a  living  Christ,  a  risen  Christ,  a  Christ  in  ths 
heavens,  above,  beyond,  in  front ;  interceding  for  us, 
stooping  towards  us,  drawnng  us  on  ;  a  light,  a  joy,  an 
inspiration  ahead.  True,  the  church  takes  up  the  his- 
torical portraiture,  believes  in  it,  honors  it ;  but  carries 
that  portrait  forward  and  looks  through  it  at  the  Lord 
above.  True,  also,  it  modifies  somewhat,  from  time 
to  time,  its  conception  of  the  portrait.  But  what  of 
that  ?  It  is  not  a  conception  it  is  serving,  nor  a  por- 
trait, but  a  living  person.  It  is  not  a  bundle  of  history 
it  is  worshipping,  but  the  divine  Lord,  once  appearing 
in  history,  now  in  the  lighted  world  above,  and  com- 
ing in  blessed  nearness  and  fellowship  to  all  believing 
ones.  It  takes  up,  as  far  as  able,  all  that  is  in  the 
history,  the  work,  the  life,  the  teachings,  the  exam- 
ple, the  sacrificial  death  and  atonement ;  takes  it  all 
up,  and  then  on  the  strength  of  this,  and  by  means  of 
this  as  wungs,  soars  away  to  the  living,  helping,  sav- 
ing Christ  above  and  bevond. 

Christianity,  brethren,  is  thus  a  religion  of  expect- 
ancy. It  holds  up  its  blessings  in  the  future,  in  ad- 
vance, towards  the  rim  of  time,  as  well  as  beyond 
time.  It  is  a  religion  that  puts  its  followers  on  march- 
ing orders  ;  and  this  carries  with  it  the  necessity  of 
making  changes,  of  leaving  certain  things,  and  ad- 
vancing to  new  quarters.  It  is  a  marching  religion,  in 
relation  to  its  works,  ideals,  ethics,  doctrines,  and 
divine  Lord.  This  truth  is  a  light,  as  well  as  a  truth, 
shining  over  a  broad  region  of  fact,  and  helping  us  to 
understand  certain  things  which  else  might  be  per- 
plexing. 


SERMONS.  233 

PERSONS    OF    A    GLOOMY    TURN. 

I  will  mention  two  or  three  of  them.  It  helps  us  to 
understand  why  some  good  men,  who  hold  the  Chris- 
tian faith  as  they  have  come  to  believe  it  very  tena- 
ciously, take  a  despondent  view  of  the  prospects  of 
Christianit}-.  In  every  age  there  have  been  persons  of 
this  gloomj'  turn  in  the  church.  Thej^  like  the  old 
forms  and  ways,  and  commit  the  common  mistake  of 
supposing  they  are  inseparable  from  the  substance. 
They  see  the  process  of  removal.  Parties  are  taking 
down  tents  and  pitching  them  elsewhere.  Fragments 
of  sacred  furniture  are  scattered  and  left.  The  old  lines 
and  order  are  disturbed.  Enterprises  once  sacred  are 
abandoned  or  have  become  weakened,  and  new  ones 
undertaken.  Old  ideals  cease  to  fire  enthusiasm,  and 
many  persons  are  going  after  new  loves,  and  they  know 
not  whether  these  loves  are  divine.  Even  some  por- 
tions of  the  ancient  formulas  of  orthodoxy  are  ques- 
tioned, and  others  abandoned  altogether.  They  see 
these  things,  and  are  troubled.  They  forget  that  we 
have  not  as  3'et  ' '  come  to  the  rest  and  to  the  inher- 
itance "  which  the  Eord  our  God  giveth  us.  They 
seem  to  think  we  have  come  to  it,  or  our  fathers  came 
to  it  long  ago  ;  and  that  these  things  are  signs  that  we 
are  going  away  from  it,  instead  of  really  being  signs 
that  we  are  advancing  towards  it.  The}'-  see  the  Prov- 
idence that  shaped  the  Christianity  of  the  past,  but  see 
no  Providence  presiding  over  the  movements  of  Chris- 
tianity now.  The}'  observe  the  raveling  edge  of  the 
divine  web,  but  not  the  edge  that  is  knitting  and  weav- 
ing together.  They  see  the  things  left  behind,  but 
understand  not  the  new  gains  and  conquests.  They 
think  that  Christianity  ought  to  be  doing  the  old  things 
16 


234  ISRAEL    EDSON    UWINELL. 

in  the  old  way  ;  and  because  it  is  not,  but  is  doing  some 
new  things  in  new  w^ays,  they  mourn  over  its  signs  of 
life  as  over  decay.  They  need  a  deeper,  broader,  truer 
view  ;  a  front  view  instead  of  a  rear  view. 

VISIONARIES. 

This  subject  helps  us  to  understand  the  mistake  made 
in  an  opposite  direction  by  a  class  of  visionaries  and 
anti-Christian  schemers.  They  think  that  the  forms 
and  usages  of  Christianity  are  all  there  is  to  it ;  and 
looking  at  the  changes  and  magnif5dng  them,  and  tak- 
ing no  account  of  the  abiding  under-principles,  they 
imagine  that  it  is  slowly  changing  its  character.  See- 
ing only  the  new  side,  thej'  fancy  it  is  about  to  bre  ik 
awaj^  from  its  connections  with  the  past,  and  become  a 
new^  religion,  and  meet  them  in  a  kind  of  eclectic  pa- 
ganism. Not  perceiving  that  the  modifications  relate 
to  the  externals,  not  to  the  substance,  and  that  there 
is  a  line  of  divine  continuity  running  through  it  in  all 
ages,  giving  it  unity,  they  congratulate  themselves  that 
they  are  soon  to  have  it  as  an  ally.  Foolish  hope  ! 
Christianity  is  to  turn  no  summersaults.  It  is  to  leap 
into  no  revolutions.  It  wdll  disappoint  those  who  are 
waiting  to  have  it  run  out  into  broad  Churchism,  or 
Pantheism,  or  Liberalism  ;  or  take  sides  with  Infidelity ; 
or  make  friends  with  Free  Lovers  or  Internationals,  or 
Spiritualists,  and  expunge  the  law  of  God,  and  set  up 
in  its  place  a  human  lust  and  passion.  It  is,  and  ever 
will  be,  the  old  and  the  new  Christianity  still,  wearing 
a  slowl}^  changeable  dress,  made  necessary  on  account 
of  her  growth  and  changing  circumstances,  but  which 
becomes  even  more  bright  and  glistening  as  she  ad- 
vances, with  the  radiant  spirit  of  the  Lord  shining 
from  her  through  it. 


SERMONS.  235 

WHY   SOME    PROPHESY    DECLINE. 

In  the  light  of  this  subject  we  can  also  understand 
why  some  persons  who  have  no  sj-mpathy  with  Chris- 
tianity announce  its  decline  and  earlj-  death.  They  go 
round  and  pick  up  pieces  of  its  sloughed  skin  ;  they 
hunt  for  fragments  of  shell  which  the  mighty  but  still 
young  crustacean  has  outgrown  and  torn  off;  put  these 
bits  and  shreds  together,  catalogue  and  label  them,  and 
frame  a  proclamation  to  the  world  that  Christianity  is 
dead,  or  dying,  and  these  are  the  proofs  of  it.  They 
are  diggers  of  fossils, — searchers  among  graves  and 
tombs.  They  have  the  instinct  of  hj-enas,  jackals, 
buzzards,  and  hover  about  the  rear  of  the  great  advanc- 
ing army  for  the  waste  and  putrescence  left  behind. 
All  this  thej^  see  ;  but  they  perceive  not  the  living, 
working,  thronging  army  out  in  the  open  air  and  broad 
day  in  advance,  going  on  to  higher  and  brighter  serv- 
ice, massing  its  columns,  multiplying  its  forces,  and 
making  the  thick  shadows  of  the  kingdom  of  darkness 
retire  farther  and  farther.  It  is,  morallj'  and  spiritually, 
a  mightier  power  on  the  earth  now  than  ever  before, 
having  more  influence  over  the  faiths  and  lives  of  men  ; 
yet  they  see  it  not,  and  resolve  its  influence  into  the 
strange  persistence  of  human  credulit}-.  More  money, 
more  energy  and  thought,  more  men,  than  in  any  other 
age,  are  in  this  freely  consecrated  to  carry  it  into  new 
lands  or  among  neglected  populations  ;  and  they  have 
no  appreciation  of  the  facts.  In  1873,  as  I  learn  bj'  a 
summary  prepared  by  Rev.  M.  M.  G.  Dana,  the  Evan- 
gelical churches  of  the  United  States  reported  a  mem- 
bership of  5,400,000,  about  one-seventh  of  the  whole 
population,  and  almost  one-fourth  of  all  above  fifteen 
years  of  age  ;  and  in  1870,  the  Protestants  reported,  in 


236  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

the  census,  church  property  to  the  amount  of  $293,- 
498,015,  and  church-sittings  for  19,674,548  persons,  an 
increase  of  1 1  per  cent  in  the  last  ten  5-ears,  while  the 
church  property  was  more  than  double  what  it  was  in 
i860.  If  such  facts  indicate  decline  of  faith  in  Chris- 
tianity, the  decline  must  be,  like  Darwin's  "Descent 
of  Man,  "  a  decline  up^^  ards. 

EBBS   AND    FLOWS. 

True,  in  the  mixing  up  of  nationalities  and  systems 
in  these  times,  the  communities  once  almost  wholly 
Christian  have  opened  their  ranks,  and  received  among 
them  foreign  elements  of  doubt  and  skepticism  from 
heterogeneous  quarters,  so  that  there  are  no  more  any 
such  homogeneous  Christian  communities  as  there 
once  were.  True,  also,  unbslief  is  now  voiced  and 
jubilant,  and  occupies  noisy  places.  Fifty  unbelievers 
could  be  named  in  the  United  States  who  make  more 
noise  than  a  thousand  modest,  humble  Christians  of  far 
more  culture,  learning  and  parts,  whose  names  also 
could  be  given.  The  declarations  of  faith  do  not  startle 
the  public,  and  therefore  the  press  is  not  eager  to  take 
them  up  and  report  them.  Christianity  flows  on  as 
a  quiet,  broad,  might}^  swelling  river — almost  a  sea  ; 
infidelit}^  as  a  stormj^  muddy,  wild  mountain  torrent. 
True,  once  more,  Christianit}^  advances  by  a  law  of 
flows  and  ebbs  at  any  one  point,  but  in  the  large  field 
of  the  world  the  flows  exceed  the  ebbs,  as  when  the 
tide  is  coming  in.  It  grows  as  a  tree  grows,  which  has 
its  times  of  shedding  leaves  and  seeming  to  lose  ground, 
which,  however,  are  really  times  of  preparation  and 
waiting  for  a  new  start  of  life.  It  may  seem  to  lose 
here  and  there,  now  and  then,  but  it  is  only  to  gain  so 
much  the  more  in  the  end,  or  elsewhere.     Christ  is 


SERMONS.  237 

"  head  over  all  things  to  the  Church, "  and  makes  all 
things  serve  her. 

Further,  if  the  fact  that  men  are  changing  some  of 
the  externals  of  their  Christian  faith  and  practice  proves 
a  general  decline  in  Christianit)^  then,  for  the  same 
reason  it  must  be  conceded,  there  is  a  much  greater 
decline  among  their  respective  votaries  of  faith,  in 
science,  education,  and  the  practical  arts  ;  for,  in  all 
these,  men  are  giving  up  old  positions  and  hurrying 
into  new  ones,  to  an  extent  inconceivably  greater  than 
is  true  in  the  case  of  Christianity.  Yet  science,  educa- 
tion and  the  practical  arts  are  not  dying  out,  nor  men's 
faith  in  them.  They  live  on  in  new  and  more  vigorous 
forms  ;  and  so  will  Christianity,  which  passes  through 
no  such  fluctuations  and  metamorphoses,  live  on. 

ONWARD    THE    WATCHWORD. 

My  friends,  it  is  this  religion  which  you  are  invited 
to  ally  yourselves  with,  and  aid  with  soul,  body  and 
fortune.  It  is  this  religion  which  you  are  asked  to 
help  put  in  all  the  unoccupied  regions  of  our  land,  and 
other  lands  also  ;  a  marching  religion,  a  religion  that 
holds  up  something  before  the  world,  and  then  reaches 
down  and  undergirds  humanity,  and  helps  it  up  towards 
it.  When  you  give  your  money  to  it,  when  you  give 
your  influence  to  it,  when  you  give  your  faith  to  it, 
when  you  give  yourself  to  it,  3'cu  do  not  throw  your 
gift  backwards  towards  the  rear  of  civilization  and  the 
world's  progress,  but  forwards  towards  its  rising  day. 

Thus  we  see,  brethren,  that  the  whole  genius  of  our 
religion  commits  us  to  aggressive  movement  here  in 
America.  There  is  no  looking  back,  no  standing 
still.  Onward  is  the  watchword  ;  onward  against  the 
strongholds    of  sin  ;    onward    against    the   powers    of 


238  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

darkness  ;  onward,  till  gospel  light  and  privilege  pene- 
trate every  alley  and  cellar  in  our  cities,  every  camp 
and  cabin  on  our  mount  dns,  and  thread  everj^  high- 
way across  our  plains.  Onward  against  the  great 
mountain  of  intemperance,  till  it  becomes  a  plain  ; 
against  the  social  evil,  till  it  disappears  ;  against  super- 
stition, till  it  is  no  more  ;  onward,  till  bereaved  men 
and  women  no  longer  ask  solemn  counsel  of  their  own 
fancies,  mysteriously  conjured  forth  from  secret  hiding- 
places  in  their  souls,  and  reported  back  to  their  senses 
as  if  thc}^  were  visitors  from  another  world  ;  onward, 
till  purity  wins  office,  and  honest}^  and  capacity  hold 
it ;  onward,  till  frauds  cease,  and  public  virtue  equals 
public  intelligence  ;  onward,  till  men  honor  God,  and 
are  as  eager  to  obey  his  laws  as  to  know  how  to  use 
them  ;  onward,  onward,  till  Christ  comes,  and  again 
says — not  referring  to  the  preparatory  work,  but  the 
whole  superstructure  of  the  world's  redemption  resting 
on  it — "  It  is  finished  !  "  Onward,  onward,  till  "the 
kingdoms  of  this  world  are  become  the  kingdoms  of 
our  Lord  and  his  Christ  " — "'  for  ye  are  not  as  yet  come 
to  the  rest  and  to  the  inheritance  zvhich  the  Lji'd your  God 
giveth  yon ." 


II. 

*THE  ASSAILED  BUT  CONQUERING  BOOK. 


'' I  am  the  Lord  thai  maketh  all  things ;  that  frustrateth  the 
tokens  of  the  liars,  and  maketh  diviners  mad;  that  turneth 
wise  men  backward,  and  maketh  their  knowledge  foolish;  that 
confirmeth  the  word  of  his  servant,  and  performeth  the  counsel 
of  his  messenger^ — Isaiah  44;  24-26. 

Here  is  a  book — an  old  book — portions  of  it  more 
than  3,300  years  old,  and  the  latest  written  nearly 
1,800  years  ago.  Why  is  it  here?  It  has  come  in 
conflict  with  many  human  systems.  It  was  put  into 
the  world  of  books  a  stranger,  without  peer  or  helper 
among  the  books,  in  an  uncongenial  atmosphere,  and 
has  been  ever  since  the  object  of  ceaseless  attacks,  open 
and  covert.  Yet,  strange  to  say,  looked  at  simply  as 
a  literary  peculiarity,  it  is  an  overcoming  book.  It  is 
endowed  not  only  with  some  mysterious  property  of 
life,  of  indestructibility,  but  also  of  conquest.  It  lives 
on  but  to  conquer.  It  vanquishes  its  assailants,  and 
holds  the  ground  once  occupied  by  them,  while  they, 
one  after  another,  disappear  and  are  forgotten.  It  is 
plain  that  for  .some  reason  the  Bible  is  an  overcoming 
book. 

CONFLICTING    BOOKS    DIE. 

In  no  age  has  it  alone  proposed  to  man  a  spiritual 
system,    a   revelation,  or    the    light   he  needs  for  his 

*  Preached  in  Sacramento,  June  lo,  1875. 


240  ISRAEL    EDSON    UWINKLL. 

guidance  and  safety.  In  every  age  it  has  had  compet- 
itors that  offered  eas}-,  acceptable  and  different  terms 
of  welfare  and  bliss.  Yet  this  remarkable  fact  meets 
us  all  along  the  line  of  historj^  that  those  systems  come 
and  go — come  with  all  the  novelty,  attraction  and  ad- 
vantages of  starting  in  a  new  age  and  profiting  by  the 
accumulated  wisdom,  and  promising  to  be  a  finalit}', 
and  go  smitten  with  premature  deca\-  or  antiquity  into 
oblivion,  to  make  room  for  successors  which  repeat  the 
process  ;  while  the  book  survives,  and  never  in  its  spirit 
and  moral  uses  becomes  old,  any  more  than  light  be- 
comes old,  or  fire  or  truth  orbeaut}-.  Look  back  across 
the  centuries.  Where  are  the  systems  which  were 
once  the  proud  theologies  and  religious  philosophies  of 
men,  but  whose  very  names  are  now  strange  or  histor- 
ical onh- ?  Where  are  the  writings  of  Celsus,  Julian 
the  Apostate  ;  of  the  Gnostics,  the  Neo  Platonists,  the 
Manichaeans,  the  Ghibell  nes  ;  of  Lord  Herbert,  Hoppe, 
the  Earl  of  Shaftsbury,  Toland,  Collins,  Lord  Boling- 
broke,  Hume,  Paine ;  of  the  scoffing  Voltaire,  of 
Diderot  and  other  spiritual  levelers  of  the  Enclyclope- 
dia,  and  of  Rousseau,  eulogizing  a  state  of  nature  as  the 
supreme  felicit}'  ?  Their  S3'stems,  as  furnishing  a  reli- 
gion or  a  substitute  for  one,  now  slumber,  and  no  one 
dreams  of  finding  in  any  or  all  of  them  the  wa}-  of  life. 
For  such  purposes  they  are  forgotten.  They  are  cast 
off  as  the  worthless  exuviae  of  past  ages.  They  lie  as 
the  dust  which  the  Bible,  as  it  has  traveled  down  the 
centuries,  raised,  and  which  filled  the  air  for  a  short 
time,  but  soon  settled,  and  now  simph^  marks  the  track 
of  the  triumphal  progress  of  the  overcoming  Look. 
You  would  as  soon  think  of  exhuming  3'our  religion 
from  the  Zendavesta  of  the  Parsees,  the  Puranas  of  the 
Hindoos,  the  mythology  of  the  Greeks,  or  the  legends 


SERMONS.  241 

of  the  Scandinavians,  as  from  them.  They  are  searched 
and  valued  now  simply  as  fossils,  petrifactions  of  the 
dead  past,  hints  for  the  historical  resurrection  of  buried 
ages. 

THE    NATURE    OF    THE    BOOK    TO    LIVE. 

Yet  while  these  and  like  books  are  soon  displaced, 
are  in  their  very  nature  and  make  up  perishable  and 
transient,  the  Bible  betrays  no  such  symptoms.  It 
passes  quietly  and  calmly  down  the  ages,  like  a  proph- 
et endowed  with  immortal  youth,  ever  loved  and  hon- 
ored, and  speaking  living  words  to  living  souls  ;  or  like 
a  great  spiritual  sun,  raying  out  into  the  darkness 
light  just  as  fresh  today  as  when  it  first  began  to  shine 
— an  ever-living  and  overcoming  book,  as  if  it  were  the 
nature  of  books  to  live  and  not  to  die,  and  as  if  there 
were  nothing  strange  and  exceptional  in  its  continu- 
ance. 

STRANGENESS    AND   SIGNIFICANCE    OF    THE    FACT. 

Bear  in  mind  in  considering  the  strangeness  of  this 
fact,  that  the  Bible  makes  no  appeal  to  the  lower  na- 
ture and  passions,  or  the  prejudices  of  man  or  society. 
It  finds  at  first  no  natural  allies.  It  makes  no  friends 
till  it  has  conquered  their  love  from  opposition  or  in- 
difference. It  makes  its  wa}-  by  a  mighty  conquest. 
Its  life,  moreover,  and  its  aggressive  power  are  moral, 
not  those  of  the  sword.  It  has  no  friends  but  such  as 
choo.se  to  be.  It  reigns  in  the  heart.  It  commands 
the  homage  of  conscience.  Man  at  first  has  a  disrel- 
ish for  it ;  then,  moved  bj^  moral  and  spiritual  motives, 
reaches  out  and  takes  it,  and  then  offers  it  to  his  broth- 
ers. Its  victories  are  victories  over  the  soul.  Its  suc- 
cesses represent  the  approval  of  so  many  minds  and 


242  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

hearts.  The  successes  of  Islam  represent  so  much 
force  and  passion  ;  of  the  Copernican  system  of  astron- 
oni}'-,  so  much  intelligence  ;  of  the  American  arms,  so 
much  patriotism  and  bravery  ;  the  success  of  the  Bible, 
so  many  approving  reasons,  consciences,  wills — the 
highest  homage  of  so  many  awakened  and  immortal 
souls.  No  other  book,  no  other  system,  no  other 
ciuse,  has  a  success  which  means  so  much,  which 
covers  such  a  vast  underlaj-  of  noble  things,  the  assent 
of  so  much  in  man,  reaching  all  the  way  from  the  high- 
est approval  and  exercise  of  the  soul  to  the  most  trivial 
service  of  the  fingers — the  assent,  in  a  word,  of  the 
whole  man. 

CONQUERING   POWER    OF    THE    BOOK. 

And  remember,  again,  in  considering  the  Bible  as 
the  overcrowning  Book,  that  it  does  not  merely  live 
with  a  narrow  and  thin  line  of  believers,  across  the 
centuries,  but  that  there  has  been  a  great  and  increas- 
ing host  gathering  around  it.  Profound  and  signifi- 
cant as  its  successes  are  in  the  individual — running 
all  through  the  soul  of  man  as  electricity  runs  through 
his  body — they  are  broad  and  enlarging  also.  Many  in 
every  Christian  century  have  found  in  it  their  faith, 
fastened  on  it  their  hopes,  and  clung  to  its  promises  as 
to  the  hand  of  God.  It  has  steadily,  and  to  large  and 
accumuating  numbers,  furnished  the  vital  religion  of 
Christendom  ;  and,  far  beyond  the  acknowledged  cir- 
cle of  its  influence,  it  shapes  the  general  thinking  and 
feeling  of  multitudes.  There  is  not  another  book  at 
this  moment  that  has  a  thousandth  part  of  the  power 
over  mankind,  which  this  has  ;  and  the  same  is  true  of 
any  age  since  the  completion  of  the  canon.  Go  back 
to  what  century  you  please  of  the  Christian  era,  and 


SERMONS.  243 

Still  the  Bible  was  then  the  living  Book — the  one  Book 
which,  for  some  reason,  most  influenced  men,  taking 
the  deepest,  strongest,  longest  hold  on  them.  It 
meets  other  books  in  their  own  age,  at  the  moment  of 
their  freshness  and  greatest  power,  and  3-et  it  is  then 
more  a  living  Book  than  the}-.  It  meets  them  on  their 
own  ground,  and,  if  antagonistic  to  it,  overcomes  them 
— it  nestling  snugly  in  many  human  hearts,  more 
prized  than  life,  cherished  almost  as  a  part  of  the  soul, 
while  they  excite  at  most  a  superficial  curiositj^  or  en- 
thusiasm, and  pass  away.  This  was  the  case  in  its 
first  great  contest,  when  it  met  the  paganism  of  Greece 
and  Rome  closely  interwoven  with  the  existing  domes- 
tic, social  and  civil  life  ;  it  survived  and  that  fell. 
This  was  the  case  when  it  first  encountered  the  relig- 
ion of  the  barbarians  who  overran  and  conquered 
Rome  ;  it  conquered  those  rude  conquerors.  This  was 
the  case  when,  subsequently,  in  the  Middle  Ages,  the 
hierarch}-  claimed  and  exercised  in  their  councils  the 
power  of  erecting  traditions  to  a  power  of  authority" 
equal  to  the  Sacred  Scriptures  ;  it  sprang  from  the 
unhol)'  alliance  in  the  Reformation,  and  traditions 
waned.  This  was  the  case  in  each  of  the  four  great 
modern  issues,  which  may  be  vaguely  designated  with 
reference  to  the  source  of  the  respective  movements  as 
the  issue  with  English  infidelity  and  the  issue  with 
French  atheism,  in  the  last  century,  and  the  issue  with 
German  philosophy  and  the  issue  with  materialistic 
science,  in  the  present ;  for  here,  also,  so  far  as  re- 
sults have  reached  a  finality,  as  in  the  first  three,  the 
Bible  is  the  book  of  life  and  power,  and  they  are  the 
systems  of  defeat  and  death  ;  and  although  we  are  in 
the  midst  of  the  conflict  with  the  fourth,  there  is  no 
more  doubt  what  the  result  will  be  here  than  if  it  were 


244  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

already  reached.  Materialism  has  no  light  to  give  be- 
wildered man,  and  must  give  place  to  God's  word, 
which  has  such  a  light. 

WHY    THE    BOOK    IS    HERE. 

If,  now,  we  raise  the  inquiry,  "Why  is  this  book 
here  ?  "  or,  in  other  words,  "  Why  is  it  an  overcoming 
book?  "  we  shall  find  a  sufficient  reason  to  be,  because 
it  is  God's  book,  and  God  made  it  to  live.  Its  origin 
is,  professedly,  unlike  that  of  all  other  productions  ; 
and  the  more  one  knows  of  it,  is  in  sympath}'  with  it, 
and  comprehends  it,  the  more  he  perceives  that  the 
fact  justifies  the  claim.  The  evidences  of  its  Divine 
source  come  rolling  in  on  the  spirituality-awakened 
and  docile  soul,  the  Godly  and  kindred  mind,  with 
cumulative  power.  It  has,  indeed,  a  human  element 
of  form,  manner,  instrumentality,  mingled  with  the 
Divine  element  of  substance,  matter,  purpose,  object; 
but  it  is  still  properly  called  God's  book.  In  it  He  re- 
veals Himself,  His  doings  and  His  will,  so  far  as  He 
deems  it  necessary  for  the  use  of  man.  He  reveals 
Himself  in  nature.  He  reveals  Himself  in  the  human 
soul.  But  it  is  here,  and  only  here,  that  He  reveals 
Himself  in  a  book. 

GOD    MADE    IT    TO    LIVE. 

Now  because  it  is  His  book,  and  His  great  book- 
medium  of  communicating  His  will  to  man — timeless 
man,  man  in  all  ages  subsequent  to  its  origin — He 
watches  over  it,  that  it  may  live.  The  same  omniscient 
wisdom  and  creative  power  and  skill  that  in  some  way, 
no  matter  what,  swung  our  earth  out  into  space,  amid 
the  countless  attractions  and  disturbing  forces  of  the 
universe,  and  yet,  anticipating  them  all,  causes  it  to 


SERMONS.  245 

pass  through  them  undisturbed,  hold  on  its  way  and 
fulfill  its  mission  ;  an  enduring  world,  though  comets 
dash  past,  and  satellites  swing  around,  and  planets 
brush  b5%  and  the  whole  solar  system,  all  in  a  move- 
ment within  itself,  is  sweeping  on  somewhere  through 
the  outlying  universe  filled  with  systems  of  worlds  of 
its  own  ;  forecast  the  track  and  perils  of  the  Bible  when 
he  sent  it  on  its  mission,  prepared  it  accordingl)-,  and 
will  guide  it  safely  through  them.  No  false  revelation 
or  wild  assault  of  perverted  genius  will,  accordingly, 
be  allowed,  like  a  comet,  to  strike  it  and  wrap  it  in 
flames.  No  sister  revelation  of  God  in  nature  or  the 
soul  will  break  out  from  its  own  path,  like  an  unorbed 
planet,  and  dash  it  in  pieces.  And  as  it  holds  on  its 
way  through  the  Universe  of  letters  and  books,  no  one 
of  them  will  come  in  collision  with  it,  to  turn  it  out  of 
its  course.  For  it  is  God's  book,  and  he  made  it  to 
live  ;  and,  therefore,  it  is  an  overcoming  book. 

ITS    SPIRIT    IMMORTAL. 

Besides,  God  has  put  an  immortality  into  it  which 
tends  to  preserve  it  by  its  own  energy.  This  is  the 
spirit  of  the  book,  "  My  words,  they  are  spirit  and  they 
are  life."  As  the  Divine  element  in  the  soul,  the  Di- 
vine image  put  into  it  bj^  the  original  purpose  and  cre- 
ation of  God,  with  such  aid  as  God  is  pleased  to  add  to 
carry  out  the  purpose,  bears  the  soul  up  amid  all  ex- 
posures and  makes  it  immortal,  so  that  you  cannot 
destroy  it  by  any  assaults,  and  it  laughs  at  pistols  and 
swords  and  fagots,  and  even  the  crash  of  worlds,  so  the 
Divine  element,  the  spirit,  which  God  has  put  in  His 
book,  with  such  help  as  he  is  pleased  to  continue  to 
bestow,  makes  it  indestructible  and  immortal,  and 
skeptics  and  enemies  assail  it  in  vain.     This  book  lives 


246  ISRAEL    EDSON    UWINELL. 

and  overcomes  because  there  is  Divine  soul  in  it  ;  other 
books  are  overcome  and  die  because  they  are  human 
and  have  no  such  soul.  ' '  The  word  of  our  God  shall 
stand  forever. ' '     Ghosts  die,  spirits  live. 

A    BOOK    OF    TRUTH. 

Again,  this  book  is  a  revelation  of  truth.  It  is  not 
only  God's  book,  but  its  contents  are  an  unfolding  of 
important  spiritual  facts.  It  lifts  the  veil  from  a  hidden 
world,  which  we  are  already  in — the  world  of  spiritual 
realities  and  relations — and  discloses  all  that  it  is  nec- 
essary for  us  to  see  for  our  safe  conduct.  It  is  the  taper 
which  lights  up  the  dark  cave  to  the  traveler,  who 
must  find  his  way  safely  through  and  out,  or  perish. 
Truth  lives,  error  dies  ;  therefore  the  Bible  lives. 
"Truth,"  saj's  Milton,  "  is  strong  next  to  the  Al- 
might}'."  "Thy  word  is  true  from  the  beginning; 
and  every  one  of  thy  righteous  judgments  endureth 
forever. " 

IT   WEDS    ITSELF   TO    THE   SOUL. 

And  another  element  in  the  overcoming  power  of  the 
Bible  is  the  fact  that  it  is  not  only  truth,  but  truth 
adapted  to  the  spiritual  condition  and  wants  of  man. 
It  is  truth  pla3nng  into  the  needs  and  laws  of  the  soul. 
It  is  truth  that  is  just  as  much  designed  for  spiritual 
nourishment  and  health  as  food  for  bodily  support.  It 
is  truth  in  relation  to  man  as  needing  salvation.  It  is 
truth  that  fits  the  soul,  as  a  rnother's  love  and  care  fit 
the  helpless  babe.  It  comes  down  to  man  just  as  he 
is,  and  furnishes  just  the  light  and  guidance  he  needs, 
that  he  may  be  raised  up  to  glory.  It  recognizes  these 
three  great  central  facts,  and  provides  for  them,  which 
must  be  done  in  any  religious  system,  or  it  is  worth- 


SERMONS.  247 

less  :  Man  a  sinner  needing  pardon  and  cleansing,  the 
necessity  of  an  atonement,  and  the  reality  and  presence 
of  a  personal  Saviour.  And  around  these  centers  it 
groups  all  the  collaterals  and  aids  of  a  perfect  gospel, 
which,  Hke  the  Sabbath,  is  made  for  man,  not  man  for 
that  ;  and  all  this  it  hands  over  to  him  with  the  varied 
attractions  and  persuasions  of  varied  letters — historic, 
poetic,  logical,  rhetorical;  in  type,  prophecy,  symbol, 
parable,  warning,  exhortation,  command.  The  con- 
sequence is  that  the  Bible  lays  itself  on  the  human  soul 
receiving  it  ;  nay,  more,  penetrates  and  weds  itself  to 
it  in  all  its  parts  and  powers,  clasping  them  with  vital 
bands,  and  living  with  its  life.  It  is  thus  grown  into 
the  soul  in  inseparable  union.  Other  books  men  can 
lay  aside,  forget,  suffer  to  be  taken  from  them  or  go 
into  oblivion  ;  but  this,  if  loved  as  God's  book,  they 
will  cling  to  at  the  stake,  the  inquisitor's  rack,  through 
fire  and  flood,  and  the  loss  of  all  things  earthly.  And 
I  venture  that  you,  mj-  friends,  as  little  as  you  may 
have  thought  you  love  the  Bible,  would,  every  one  of 
you,  give  up  all  other  books  before  you  would  consent 
to  have  this  put  beyond  reach,  and  would  be  willing  to 
fight  unto  the  death  before  3^ou  would  allow  it  to  be 
wrested  from  you  b}'  any  combination  of  its  enemies. 
This  is  an  overcoming  book  because  of  the  devotion  to 
it  of  human  souls,  especially  of  such  as  have  found  in 
it  the  wa}-  of  life,  a  Saviour,  the  will  of  God,  and  the 
hopes  of  a  blessed  immortality. 

IT    IDENTIFIES    ITSELF    WITH    THE    LIFE    OF 
CIVILIZATION. 

Furthermore,  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  Bi- 
ble, wherever  it  goes  and  finds  a  real  lodgment,  creates 
around  it  the  institutions  of  civilization  and  humanity. 


248  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

It  populates  the  land  with  powerful  friendships  and 
supporters.  It  penetrates  the  living  interests  of  so- 
ciet3^  and  in  connection  with  them,  at  once  blending 
with  them  and  moulding  them,  weds  itself  with  the  so- 
cial fabric.  And  such,  in  a  short  time,  is  its  hold  on 
the  organized  vitalities,  the  institutions  and  customs  of 
a  Christian  community,  that  j'ou  will  be  obliged  to 
tear  down  the  social  structure,  with  all  its  civilization 
and  humanity,  to  extirpate  the  Bible  and  its  influence  ; 
and  if  3^ou  arrest  the  Bible  and  its  influence,  you  begin 
the  work  of  social  demolition.  It  is  this  power  of  the 
Bible  to  produce  all  humane  and  noble  things,  inter- 
weave itself  with  them,  and  buttress  itself  with  them, 
that  is  another  element  of  its  endurance  and  progress. 

SUGGESTED    EXCEPTIONS. 

The  only  books  that  can  be  suggested  to  a  historical 
mind  as  a  possible  exception  to  these  remarks  is  the 
Koran,  and  possibly  some  of  the  writings  of  Confucius 
and  of  the  mystics  of  India.  But  consider  that  the  issue 
between  the  Koran  and  the  Bible  is  not  yet  settled  ; 
that  at  this  moment  the  Koran  is  slowly  melting  away 
before  the  Bible,  under  the  influence  of  moral  forces, 
to  sa}^  nothing  of  other  causes  ;  and  that,  up  to  the 
present  generation,  the  Bible  never  came  into  actual 
moral  or  intellectual  contact  with  it.  Islamism  was 
formerly  walled  around  b}'  physical  forces,  more  insur- 
mountable and  repulsive  than  the  Chinese  wall,  and 
was  made  absolutely  inaccessible  to  the  spiritual  forces 
of  Christianity.  If  the  two  systems  had  all  along  been 
brought  together  on  the  moral  arena — as  for  the  first 
time  they  have  been  to  some  extent  within  a  few  years 
— and  had  fought  it  out  there,  the  Koran  would  have 
been  long  ago  an  obsolete  book.     There  has  been  real- 


SERMONS.  249 

h^  no  issue  between  the  Koran  and  the  Bible,  onl}-  be- 
tween the  sword  of  Mohammed  and  the  scepter  of  the 
Christian  Powers,  until  our  day.  Here  is  no  excep- 
tion to  the  position  that  the  Bible  is  the  overcoming 
book.  The  same  is  true  of  the  sacred  books  of  China 
and  India,  the  continuance  of  which  is  to  be  ascribed, 
not  so  much  to  the  intelligent  research  and  conviction 
of  individual  minds,  as  to  a  certain  national  habit  of 
hereditary  transmission  of  faith,  a  blind  momentum  of 
doctrine  resulting  from  peculiar  national  inertia  and 
isolation. 

THE    PAST   AN    INDICATION'    OF    THE    FUTURE. 

Thus,  we  have  seen  the  remarkable  history  of  this 
book,  and  the  reasons  for  it.  It  is  the  strangely  living 
and  overcoming  book.  This  is  the  fact  all  through  the 
past  down  to  the  present.  Will  it  be  any  less  so  in 
the  future  ?  The  reasons  are  in  their  nature  unchang- 
ing— the  Bible,  ever  God's  book  ;  ever  a.  revelation  of 
truth  ;  ever  a  book  of  principles,  not  of  forms  ;  ever 
adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  soul — will  the  result  be  dif- 
fetent  hereafter  ?  Will  the  Bible,  by  and  by,  be  less 
divine,  or  the  other  books  more  divine  !  No  ;  we  have 
reason  to  believe  the  same  book,  which  alone  has 
swept  down  the  ages  as  the  conquering  book,  will  go 
on,  conquering  and  to  conquer,  so  long  as  man  remains 
man  and  has  the  spiritual  wants  of  a  man.  "  Heaven 
and  earth  shall  pass  awa}^  but  my  words  shall  not  pass 
away."  And  this  is  the  teaching  of  history  and  the 
voice  of  reason,  as  well  as  the  testimony  of  Heaven. 

Yet,  all  through  the  Christian  centuries,  there  have 

been  those  who,  turning  away  from  this,  have  sought 

elsewhere,  in  some  of  the  cheap  pretenses  of  the  day, 

a  revelation  and  a  religion  for  their  souls  I     Oh,  how 

17 


250  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

blind  to  histor3%  and  the  deeper  facts  which  make  his- 
tor}-  !  How  pitiful  and  brief  the  career  of  all  books 
and  systems  and  efforts  that  have  hurled  themselves 
against  the  Bible  !  Yet,  each  new  set,  looking  else- 
where for  their  panacea,  expect  that  the  last  product, 
whatever  it  is,  that  bids  for  their  acceptance  and  wins 
it,  is  the  grand  discovery  for  the  soul  of  man  !  And 
away  they  go,  untaught  by  all  the  past,  uninfluenced 
by  the  real  facts  of  the  present,  charmed  by  the  bril- 
liant colors  of  their  bubble  ! 

It  is  not  difficult  to  foreknow  the  fate  of  any  system 
or  effort  brought  forwaid  to  supplant  the  Bible.  It 
will  array  itself  against  God  and  His  providence.  It 
will  fail  to  satisfy  the  soul.  It  will  soon  demonstrate 
that  it  outlies  the  religion  and  realm  of  truth.  And  it 
will  fail,  as  all  its  predecessors  have  failed. 

A    CONTRAST. 

A  great  New  England  heresiarch  in  early  life,  some 
forty  5^ears  ago,  boasted  that  he  would  travel  through 
the  country,  and  by  preaching  and  lecturing,  revolu- 
tionize the  theology  of  New  England,  strike  out  the 
traditional  from  men's  faith,  disburden  the  Scriptures 
of  the  supernatural  and  unhistorical,  and  establish  the 
"  absolute  religion."  And  he  did  what  he  could.  He 
traveled  ;  he  lectured  ;  he  preached  ;  he  attacked  ihe 
theology  of  the  Bible,  and  the  supernatural  in  the 
Bible,  and  thus  the  Bible.  He  used  scarcasm  and  wit 
and  eloquence,  and  beautiful  letters.  He  drew  great 
assemblies,  and  he  thought,  and  men  thought,  he  was 
a  power  in  the  land.  Compared  with  him  the  buzzing 
against  revelation  within  a  few  weeks  in  this  city  and 
elsewhere  in  the  State,  by  a  popular  lecturer  from  the 
East,  was, — for  .^scholarship,  science,  philosophy,  for 
skill   in   letters   and  in   massing  public  opinion,   and 


SERMONS.  251 

adaptation  to  lead  off  in  a  revolutionary^  movement, — 
for  ever>'tliing  but  assertion  and  brilliant  declamation 
and  arrogance  in  proclaiming  a  hostility  to  Christianity 
that  justified  itself  by  no  basis  of  fact,  or  logic,  or  rea- 
son, and  that  rested  solely  on  his  own  personality,  but 
the  peppering  of  Gibraltar  with  a  revolver,  compared 
with  its  steady  bombardment  with  Krupp  guns.     Yet, 
notwithstanding  this  great  heresiarch's  efforts  and  ad- 
vantages, the  Bible  lived  on  and  he  failed.     He  built 
no  institutions.     He  left  no  organized  succession.     He 
sowed  no  living  seeds, — some  such  as  are  floating  im- 
perceptibly in  the  air.     Nothing  positive  of  his  build- 
ing survives  ;  nothing  positive  of  his  attacking  in  the 
Bible,  or  the  theology  of  the  Bible,  or  the  supernatural 
of  the  Bible,  has   died.     But    a  humble    minister   of 
Christ,  without  brilliant  parts,  without  eloquence,  or 
wit,   or  great  worldly  wisdom,   without   his  self-con- 
scious pride,   or  towering  ambition,  or  arrogant  per- 
sonality, and  with  only  moderate  powers,  yet,  know- 
ing that  God  has  put  his  mind  in  a  book,  and  under- 
standing that  mind,   and  knowing  how  to  declare  it 
plainly  to  his  fellow  men,  without  pretense  or  bluster  or 
travel,  has  quietly  labored   in    his   parish,  preaching 
God's  word,  and  has  seen  his  preaching  taking  root  in 
schools  and  institutior.s  of  humanity,  in  the  industries 
and  virtues  of  the  people,  in  all  the  beautiful  graces  of 
this  life,  and  the  assured  hopes  of  the  next ;  and,  d3-ing, 
has  left  whole  sowings  of  the  precious  seed  to  spring 
up  in  future  harvests.     Yes,  yes,  my  brethren,  in  our 
day,  here  and  elsewhere,  the  Lord  is  the  same.      "  He 
frustrateth  the   tokens  of  liars,  he   maketli   diviners 
mad  ;    he    turneth  wdse  men   backward,   and  maketh 
their  knowledge  foolish  ;  but  he  confirmeth  the  word 
of  his  servant,  and  performeth  the  council  of  his  mes- 
sengers." 


III. 


*  PROPERTY  AN   INSTRUMENT  FOR    MORAL 

TRAINING. 


"  And  Cod  said,  Let  us  make  man  in  our  oujh  image,  after  our 
likeness :  and  let  them  have  dominion  over  the  fish  of  the  sea, 
and  over  the  foivl  of  the  air,  and  over  the  cattle,  and  over  all 
the  earth,  and  over  every  creeping  thing  that  creepeth  upon  the 
earthy — Gen.  i :  26. 

The  key  to  the  solution  of  many  vexing  questions 
in  social  science  and  political  econoni}-  lies  on  the  sur- 
face of  Scripture.  Philosophers  overlooking  that,  and 
ranging  among  human  speculations,  multiply  theories 
and  beat  the  air.  The  foundation  of  the  right  of  prop- 
erty is  one  of  those  questions  that  have  long  agitated 
philosophers  ;  and  they  have  looked  for  it,  to  little 
purpose,  in  one  direction  and  another,  outside  of  Scrip- 
ture :  in  original  discovery  and  appropriation,  in  the 
value  labor  imparts  to  things,  in  undisputed  posses- 
sions, in  the  necessities  of  organized  society.  But, 
way  back  in  the  book  of  Genesis,  at  the  very  an- 
nouncement of  the  creation  of  man,  we  find  the  true 
theory.  We  there  learn  that  property  is  fundamentally 
the  gift  of  God  to  man.  God  made  man  to  have  do- 
minion over  the  earth  and  its  products,  to  be  a  property 
owner;  and  he  put  the  earth  and  its  products  under 
man,  to  be  hXs property.    Here  is  the  foundation  of  that 

*  Preached  in  Sacramento,  March  19,  1876. 


254  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

right  which  philosophers,  looking  elsewhere,  have 
chased  in  vain  through  endless  fields  of  speculation  ; 
and  it  lies  on  the  surface  at  the  front  of  Scripture. 

But  this  is  not  all  this  passage  suggests.  It  couples 
this  property-handling  characteristic — a  characteristic, 
so  far  as  we  know,  psculiar  to  man,  having  little  in 
the  faintest  degree  analogous  to  it  among  the  animal 
races,  and  nothing  among  angels — in  immediate  con- 
nection with  man's  moral  being.  "  L,et  us  make  man 
in  our  image,  after  our  likeness ;  and  let  them  have  do- 
minion. ' '  This  joining  of  man's  property-seeking  and 
property-holding  nature  to  his  moral  nature,  in  the 
fundamental  constitution  of  his  earthly  life,  shows  that 
it  is  the  Divine  intent  that  man  should  work  out  the 
problem  of  his  freedom  in  connection  with  property. 
God  thus  indicates,  from  the  start,  that  propertj''  is  to 
be  the  element  or  the  material,  in  connection  with  the 
seeking  or  handling  of  which  the  race  as  a  race,  how- 
ever it  may  be  with  particular  persons,  is  to  solve  the 
great  questions  pertaining  to  the  image  of  God  within, 
— the  questions  of  freedom,  of  character,  of  the  welfare 
of  the  soul.  This  original  foundation  of  the  right  of 
property,  as  the  instrument  of  moral  training,  was  re- 
affirmed to  Noah  and  his  sons,  after  the  rest  of  the  race 
had  been  swept  away  b}-  the  flood .  God  said  to  them  : 
' '  Every  moving  thing  that  liveth  shall  be  meat  for 
you :  even  as  the  green  herb  have  I  given  you  all 
things." 

My  subject  will  lead  me  to  speak  on  these  points  : 
T/ie  Moral  Purpose  of  the  Gift  of  Property  to  the  Race  ; 
tJie  Adaptation  of  Property  to  be  an  Instrument  of  Moral 
Training ;  and  some  of  the  Ways  in  which  we  Train 
Ourselves  by  Means  of  it. 

We  are  apt  to  take  a  low  view  of  the:  purpose  of  prop- 


SERMONS.  255 

erty.  Some  think  of  it  as  related  merel}'  to  subsist- 
ence. Others  add  to  its  uses  for  this  purpose  the  aid 
it  gives  as  a  means  of  pleasure,  indulgence,  ostentation. 
Others  add  worldly  power  :  others  usefulness.  Others 
regard  it,  apparently,  a-;  something  to  be  accumulated 
for  its  own  sake.  And  others  look  upon  it,  mainly,  as 
one  of  the  necessities  of  civilized  life,  and  to  be  valued 
for  its  social  uses.  But  high  above  all  these  is  its  de- 
sign to  aid  in  our  moral  training.  This  view  is  main- 
tained by  some  of  the  best  writers  on  political  econo- 
my. It  is  possible  to  imagine  that  God  might  have 
instituted  a  system  in  which  all  our  physical  wants 
would  have  been  met  without  ownership,  by  a  method 
of  spontaneous  supplies,  as  in  the  case  of  bird?  and 
fishes.  In  this  case  we  should  have  been  deprived  of 
a  property  basis  for  our  spiritual  education  ;  we  should 
have  been  without  the  material  instrument  which  we 
now  occup3^  and  use,  and  b}'  means  of  which  we  shape 
character  and  destiny  ;  as  weavers  using  the  old-time 
loom  sat  on  it,  and  by  adroit  movement  of  shuttle, 
beam  and  treadle  wove  the  prized  many-colored  fibric. 
The  process  is  quite  intelligible.  Ownership,  pres- 
ent or  prospective,  absorbs  thought  and  energy,  and 
keeps  them  from  evaporating  and  disappearing  like 
unbottled  ether  ;  holds  them  where  moral  influences 
involved  in  the  various  transactio::s,  coming  upon 
them,  may  fix  an  indelible  stamp  on  character.  As 
paper,  pencils,  black-boards,  are  brought  into  use  in 
learning  arithmetic,  and  the  young  mind  hovers  over 
them  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  numbers  and  to  edu- 
cate thought ;  as  letters  and  words  are  studied  and  com- 
bined, and  used,  in  that  wonderful  instrument,  lan- 
guage, to  help  us  up  to  the  heights  of  science,  history 
and  poesy  ;  as  the  plays,  disputes,  occupations  of  chil- 


256  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

dren  in  a  true  home,  all  furnish  the  occasion  and  the 
basis  for  the  ever  watchful  and  ever  brooding  home 
training  on  the  part  of  mother  and  father  ;  so  owner- 
ship present  or  prospective,  with  its  endless  complica- 
tions of  seekings,  handlings,  usings  and  losings,  its 
involutions  and  evolutions  of  struggle  and  motive, 
presents  the  occasions  around  which  a  large  part  of  the 
influences  affecting  the  moral  education  of  the  race 
gathers,  and  is  practically  the  instrument  in  the  use 
of  which  character  is  largely  determined. 

A  man  standing  on  property  is  thus  writing  his 
name  among  the  stars  or  in  the  depths.  He  is  occu- 
pied with  questions  of  iiiine  and  thine,  dealing  wuth 
values,  following  adventures,  pushing  things,  or  mak- 
ing ends  meet  ;  and  his  soul  is  robing  itself  for  an  un- 
ending flight  upward  or  downward.  His  thought  is 
occupied  with  affairs,  investments,  harvests,  trade,  pre- 
scriptions, briefs  ;  and  at  the  same  time,  a  moral  con- 
dition is  settling  down  on  him  as  insensibly  and  cer- 
tainl)^  as  the  gathering  shadows  of  approaching  night 
or  the  increasing  light  of  coming  day. 

His  purpose  is  altogether  common-place  and  vulgar, 
perhaps,  a  question  in  the  trashy  arithmetic  of  dollars 
and  cents,  and  the  issue  is  a  tragedy,  the  final  act  of 
which  wdll  be  brought  out  at  the  judgment.  He  fan- 
cies, it  may  be,  that  in  this  department  of  his  life  he  is 
working  only  on  the  lower  side  of  his  nature,  provid- 
ing things  necessarj^  for  the  body,  and  is  leaving  in- 
intact  and  unprejudiced  all  his  higher  interests  ;  but 
these  very  secularities  are  a  training  instrument  for 
the  fashioning  of  his  higher  being,  and  when  he 
comes  to  himself  it  is  fashioned,  or  largely  so. 

Property,  then,  has  a  moral  purpose.  And  it  has 
characteristics  which  eminently  fit  it  for  this  design. 


SERMONS.  257 

In  the  first  place  it  is  an  innocent  instrument.  There 
is  no  stain  on  property  in  itself.  It  presents  no  snare, 
no  weight,  no  obstruction,  in  the  waj-of  moral  life.  As 
God  gave  and  intended  it,  it  holds  out  absolutely  inno- 
cent arms,  white  as  snow,  pure  as  cryslal,  to  welcome 
those  whose  moral  training  is  to  go  on  in  connection 
with  it.  Many  think  differently,  and  speak  of  it  as 
if  its  origin  were  from  beneath,  and  it  were  a  mere 
trap  in  which  to  catch  souls  and  drag  them  down  to 
perdition.  This  is  an  impeachment  of  the  wisdom  and 
goodness  of  God,  who  devised  propert}'  and  bestowed 
it  on  the  race  before  the  fall,  during  the  state  of  inno- 
cency.  No  damage  then  can  come  from  it,  in  its 
original  nature,  to  moral  training. 

Again,  it  is  primarily  a  passive  instrument.  It  is 
something  not  to  train  us,  but  for  us  to  train  ourselves 
with,  like  dumb-bells.  It  has  no  power  in  itself,  only 
as  we  give  it  power  to  make  us  great  and  good,  or  low 
and  bad.  We  carry  over  to  it  and  put  into  it  its  moral 
animus.  It  has  the  peculiar  adaptation  to  moral  train- 
ing, that  we  can  dim  its  influence  on  us  as  we  please. 
We  can  travel  upwards  or  downwards  by  means  of  it, 
at  our  option.  It  is  not  an  instrument  that  is  greater 
than  its  master  and  outworks  him,  but  remains  morally 
obedient  to  his  will,  unless  he  himself  fires  it  up  and 
puts  on  the  steam,  causing  it  to  run  awaj-  with  him. 
It  lies  in  our  hand,  a  great  elemental  force,  indifferent 
whichever  way  it  goes  and  what  it  does,  till  we  give  it 
the  spark  and  the  christening  that  makes  it  godly  to 
us,  or  the  venom  that  makes  it  devilish. 

It  is  also  2i  facile  and  flexible  instrument.  It  is  capa- 
ble of  aiding  men  in  all  the  sinuosities  and  eccentrici- 
ties of  their  moral  life— in  all  their  high  struggles  and 
aspirations,  in  all  their  depressions  and  desperations. 


25S  ISKAEL    EDSOX    DWINELL. 

The  love  of  it,  or  the  struggle  for  it,  or  the  use  of  it, 
or  the  loss  of  it,  or  the  contempt  for  it — property  in 
some  form — lies  back  of  aim  st  all  of  their  soul  history, 
and  often  not  far  back,  as  an  accomplice  or  a  foe,  and 
equally  as  an  element  of  moral  discipline  whether 
accomplice  or  foe.  So  it  follows  them,  and  gives  them 
a  hand  in  the  rounds  of  innocent  joy,  lofty  endeavor, 
home  life,  church  life,  state  life  and  Christian  enter- 
prise. In  like  manner,  all  the  approaches  and  purlieus 
of  the  life  below — themeanderings  of  vice  and  dissipa- 
tion, the  dark  lanes  of  hate  and  crime,  the  nesting- 
places  of  corruption — men  go  down  into  these  and  feel 
their  way  through  them,  leaning  on  the  same  staff. 
Vary  the  motive  as  you  will.  Give  it  any  direction  you 
please,  or  any  emphasis,  or  any  hint  in  that  direction, 
and  this  responsive  agent  is  present  with  its  ubiquitous 
influence.  It  is  the  most  flexible  and  universal  instru- 
ment known,  singularly  adapted  for  all  manner  of  uses 
of  moral  beings  during  their  training  period.  It  is  no 
less  the  currency  of  loves  and  hates,  b;nevolence  and 
crime,  art  and  destructiveness,  worship  and  impiety, 
than  of  drink,  food,  shelter,  travel.  It  is  the  element 
that  comes  into  play  in  the  endearments  of  affection, 
the  struggles  of  learning  and  patriotism,  as  well  as  in 
the  building  of  houses  and  the  interchange  of  trade. 

Further,  it  is,  in  its  influence,  an  accessible  instru- 
ment. It  thrusts  its  power  in  some  way  within  the 
reach  of  all.  Strange  to  say,  its  efficacy  does  not  de- 
pend on  the  amount  of  it  in  one's  possession  or  owner- 
ship, nor  even  whether  it  be  possible  for  him  or  not. 
It  is  the  way  in  which  one  bears  himself  towards  it, 
whether  in  his  possession  or  ownership,  or  out  of  it — 
the  motives  with  which  he  seeks  it,  and  the  uses  to 
which  he  would  put  it— it  is  this  that  decides  the  in- 


SERMONS.  259 

fluence  of  this  great  factor  on  character.  A  poor  man 
is  under  its  training  by  means  of  his  efforts  to  gain  it, 
possibly  by  his  envyings,  or  the  bad  uses  of  the  little 
he  has,  as  really  as  the  rich  man.  All  the  perils  of 
the  love  of  gain  are  not  on  the  side  of  the  wealthy.  A 
man  may  use  it  to  debase  himself,  who  is  not  worth  a 
dime  ;  or  he  may  use  it  to  elevate  himself,  if  he  is 
worth  millions.  On  the  other  hand,  one  may  be 
helped  by  his  poverty,  or  he  may  be  ruined  by  his 
possessions.  The  rich  and  the  poor  are  both  trained 
by  this  all  but  universal  trainer,  although  in  very 
different  ways.  But  it  would  be  difhcult  to  say  which 
are  the  most  trained,  or  the  best  or  the  poorest  trained. 
We  see,  then,  how  admirably  contrived,  in  this  par- 
ticular also,  this  instrument  is  for  the  training  of  the 
race,  inasmuch  as  its  presence  or  absence,  its  excess 
or  deficiency,  its  easy  abundance  or  smarting  want, 
alike  furnish  the  condition  for  the  special  trial  to  which 
Providence  has  consigned  each  man,  and  under  which, 
at  the  peril  of  his  soul,  he  must  settle  the  question  of 
character. 

Once  more,  it  is  a  reactionar}'  insirvim&nt.  In  itself, 
as  we  have  seen,  it  has  no  moral  character  or  quality 
— it  is  negative  ;  but  it  becomes  charged  with  oiir  own 
moral  quality  as  we  pursue  it  ;  and,  so  charged,  it  re- 
acts upon  us.  Every  man's  possession,  thus  infused 
with  his  spirit,  bears  his  own  likeness,  and  so  comes  to 
have  a  separate  educating  quality  of  its  own,  and  edu- 
cates him  still  further  in  his  chosen  way. 

Blood-stained  dollars  have  the  guilt,  fatality,  treach- 
ery, of  accomplices  after  the  fact  stamped  in  their 
nature ;  and  follow,  and  haunt,  and  threaten  the  pos- 
sessor, like  furies,  beguiling  him  into  other  crimes, 
and  finally   betraying  him.      A  miser's  money   is  his 


26o  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

double,  and  stimulates  him,  at  sight  or  thought,  like 
the  societ}'  of  a  brother  miser.  A  generous  man's 
gains  stand  up  before  him  like  the  angel  Charit}',  ask- 
ing to  be  sent  on  some  errand  of  mercy.  A  spend- 
thrift sees  in  every  dollar  he  can  get  hold  of  a  friend 
in  sorry  imprisonment,  longing  for  release  and  indul- 
gence ;  and  he  hastens  to  set  it  free  as  soon  as  possible, 
and  follows  it  till  it  disappears.  Gold  has  the  moral 
color  of  its  owner  stamped  upon  it,  and  this,  in  turn, 
strikes  through  his  hands  as  he  handles  it,  and  tinges 
his  soul.  As  a  river  that  overflows  ift  banks  leaves  a 
deposit  on  shore,  indicating  the  kind  of  soil  it  has  run 
through  and  the  kind  of  drift  it  bears,  so  the  streams 
of  Plutus  leave  a  deposit  all  along  the  character,  in 
each  case  showing  what  kind  of  a  life  the}'  have  issued 
from,  and  what  kind  of  moral  elements  they  are 
freighted  with.  Thus  the  property  we  have  not  but 
which  we  seek,  as  well  as  the  pioperty  in  our  hands — 
property  which,  in  the  first  instance,  was  entirely  in- 
nocent and  negative — becomes  imbued  with  the  quality 
of  our  own  motives  and  aims  as  we  seek  or  use  it,  and 
draws  us  after  it.  Many  a  man  is  turning  into  the 
moral  complexion  of  his  dollars.  Witness  the  man  of 
the  saloon,  sporting  men,  gamblers  in  stocks.  Wit- 
ness the  substantial  yeoman,  tradesman,  profession- 
alist.  Witness  the  lover  of  his  countr}-,  the  lover  of 
his  race,  the  lover  of  Christ.  Each  has  stamped  back 
on  himself  the  hue  of  himself — a  hue  which  he  first 
imparted  to  it. 

Such  is  the  instrument  which  is  so  conspicuous  in 
the  moral  training  of  men  ;  in  its  own  nature  innocent 
and  passive  ;  perfect!}*  flexible,  and  obedient  to  all  the 
wishes  of  moral  beings  ;  accessible  to  all,  and  ever  pres- 
ent by  its  influence  ;  and  capable  of  being  charged  by 


SERMONS.  261 

the  individual  with  a  positive  moral  power  to  mould 
and  fix  his  character.  It  is  a  wonderful  device,  sin- 
gularly adapted  to  beings  of  mixed  natures  like  ours, 
to  give  us  a  fair  trial,  because  subservient  to  freedom. 

Now,  what  are  some  of  the  zvays  in  wJiich  ive  train 
ourselves  by  means  of  it  ? 

We  train  ourselves  by  the  motives  with  which  we 
seek  it.  These  nii}^  be  any  one  of  a  million,  by  which 
different  persons  are  impelled  in  its  pursuit  ;  but  what- 
ever one  it  is,  the  strain  put  upon  that  strengthens  it. 
So  in  the  pursuit  of  property,  one  is  really  put  on  a 
run  towards  the  moral  end  pointed  at  in  his  motive, 
and  the  faster  and  the  hirder  he  runs  for  property  the 
faster  and  the  hirder  he  runs  into  that  moral  enclosure, 
and  shuts  himself  up  in  it. 

We  train  ourselves  by  the  methods  employe  i  in  seek- 
ing it.  All  the  moral  and  all  the  immoral  methods 
await  our  bidding.  We  employ  whichever  we  please  ; 
but  those  which  we  summon  to  our  aid,  whether  the 
right  or  the  wrong  or  the  mixed,  enter  as  powerful 
elements  into  the  question  of  character.  One  unright- 
eous principle  incorporated  into  our  business,  running 
in  and  out  and  combining  its  parts,  like  a  needle  and 
thread  sewing  a  seam,  is  enough  to  stitch  unrighteous- 
ness into  a  man's  soul  for  eternity  ;  and  if  our  business 
is  bad  in  itself,  then  it  becomes  a  sink  into  which  we 
throw  our  immortality  to  go  down  to  perdition.  A 
righteous  business,  on  the  other  hand,  conducted  in  an 
upright  way,  helps  the  soul  upward. 

We  train  ourselves  by  the  uses  to  which  we  put  our 
property.  A  person  on  a  raft  by  means  of  a  pole 
pushes  himself  along,  raft  and  all,  in  a  given  direction 
towards  an  end.  His  headway  is  determined  by  his 
pu.shing.     So  a  man  and   his  property  interests  are 


262  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

morall_v  aimed  in  a  certain  direction,  and  he  advances 
toward  it  by  propertj^  pushes — by  expenditures  here 
and  there  on  the  wa}^  ;  and  the  nature  and  number  of 
pushes,  in  no  small  degree,  decide  the  character  of 
the  journey.  One  ma}'  use  his  money  so  that,  as  dollar 
after  dollar  goes,  it  will  add  momentum  to  hivS  course 
downward,  or  so  that  it  will  send  him  upward.  Con- 
secrated money  acts  on  the  soul  like  angels'  wings  ; 
that  spent  in  the  service  of  sin  like  the  wings  of  a 
demon. 

We  train  ourselves,  further,  by  the  way  in  which  we 
bear  the  loss  of  property.  Sometimes  it  vanishes  sud- 
denly. If  we  then  fret,  murmur,  quarrel  with  Provi- 
dence, become  sour,  we  put  on  a  Nissus  shirt,  which 
poisons  and  maddens  the  soul  ;  if  we  accept  submis- 
sivel}^  trustfully,  bravely,  the  trial,  and  look  above,  it 
carries  us  above  like  a  chariot  of  fire.  lyoss  is  a  sharp 
■educator  in  the  one  way  or  the  other. 

We  train  ourselves,  also,  by  the  objects  to  which  we 
leave  it.  Persons  who  have  propert)^,  generally  look 
forward  to  the  objects  that  are  finalh'  to  come  into 
possession  of  it  b}-  inheritance,  will  or  gift,  and  so  far 
give  their  character  an  impulse  in  that  direction.  If 
one  plans  and  provides  a  blessing  for  mankind,  and 
arranges  for  a  living  agenc}'  to  work  for  the  glory  of 
God  when  he  is  gone,  he  wraps  himself  up  in  the  bene- 
fits of  that  purpose  beforehand,  and  holds  them  in  per- 
petuity. Ever}'  rich  person,  by  making  a  will  and 
anchoring  himself  to  some  grand  charity,  institution  of 
Christian  learning,  or  missionary  enterprise,  may  secure 
in  this  waj-  a  powerful  impulse  upward ;  while  he 
who  thinks  only  of  leaving  his  property  to  ignoble 
uses  is  borne  downward  b}^  the  unconscious  gravita- 
tion of  this  thought.     Every  person  of  means,   there- 


SERMONS.  263 

fore,  should  make  his  will,*  not  only  for  the  purpose  of 
fixing  upon  good  objects  to  which  his  property  shall 
go,  but  also  to  have  the  benefit  during  life  of  the  up- 
lift that  comes  from  the  feeling  that  he  holds  his  prop- 
erty in  trust  for  grand  interests  looking  to  the  glory  of 
God. 

Such  is  the  high  office  of  property  in  connection 
with  our  earthh'  training,  whether  we  have  much  of  it, 
or  little,  or  none.  The  instinct  that  prompts  us  to 
seek  it,  the  fact  that  we  are  obliged  to  put  ourselves 
in  some  kind  of  moral  relation  to  it  and  handle  more 
or  less  of  it,  and  the  fact  that  its  absence  tests  charac- 
ter quite  as  much  as  its  presence  does,  make  it  equalh' 
efficacious  for  this  purpose,  whatever  the  amount.  It 
is  not  designed  to  have  an  independent  educating  pow- 
er, but  to  be  obedient  to  the  will  of  him  who  uses  it 
without  prejudicing  his  freedom.  It  does  not  lead  us 
only  as  the  horse  we  drive  leads  us.  We  should  look 
upon  it  and  the  way  we  bear  ourselves  towards  it, 
therefore,  as  involving  all  the  sanctity  and  sublimity 
of  a  means  for  defining  our  character.  It  is  an  instru- 
ment by  the  use  of  which  we  are  to  define  our  spirit, 
our  disposition,  our  selfishness, — if  we  have  it, — our 
pride,  our  covetousntss,  love  of  pleasure,  want  of  prin- 
ciple, even  dishonesty,  passion,  malice  ;  or,  if  we  will 
it,  our  faith  in  God,  love  of  right,  generosity,  desire  to 
do  good,  and  uprightness  of  heart. 

Think,  my  friends,  as  you  go  out  from  day  to  day 
into  the  arena  in  which  you  encounter  the  issues  of 
property,  that  it  is  no  mere  playground  for  restless  fac- 
ulties, no  mere  race-course  with  fierce  competitors  for 

*  Dr.  Uwinell,  in  his  will,  left  bequests  to  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  Foreign  Missions,  the  American  Hynie  Missionary  Society 
and  the  Pacific  Theological  Seminary. 


264  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

an  earthly  prize,  no  mere  work-shop  in  which  to  earn 
daily  bread,  no  board  of  chance  from  which  you  hope 
to  sweep  in  the  stakes  that  will  enable  you  to  liv^e  in 
wantonness  ;  but  a  school,  rather,  in  which  you  are  to 
test  and  settle  your  character.  Na^^,  think  of  it  as  a 
holy  temple,  in  which,  whatever  others  may  do,  you 
will  worship,  praise  and  serve  God,  and  where  you  will 
adorn  3'our  soul  with  the  practical  principles  of  love 
and  Godliness,  so  that  when  you  go  forth  from  it,  you 
may  go  forth  beautiful  in  soul  and  ennobled.  The  silk- 
worm weaves  its  covering  of  silk  about  it,  in  which  it 
undergoes  the  change,  and  thence  emerges  with  wings 
adapted  for  its  new  sphere  and  service. 

So  live,  so  weave  about  3'ou  the  threads  that  come 
from  the  relations  of  property — the  threads  of  honest 
seekings,  generous  givings,  pure  usings  and  conse- 
crated holdings — that  you  may  undergo,  in  the  midst  of 
this  environment,  the  great  transformation  that  will 
fit  you  for  the  life  above  ;  so  that,  when  you  emerge 
from  it,  and  leave  it  forever  behind,  3'oumay  have  all 
the  organs  and  preparations  to  go  at  once  and  be  ever- 
more with  Christ  in  the  new  sphere  and  home  above. 


IV. 

*UNCONSCIOUS  HEIvP  FROM  GOD. 


"  /  taught  Ephraivi  also  to  go,  taking  them  by  their  arms  ;  but 
they  knew  not  that  I  healed  them.  I  drew  them  with  the  cords 
of  a  man,  with  bands  of  love.'' — Hosea  ii :  3-4. 

In  an  Italian  painting  the  central  figure  is  a  small 
boy,  said  to  represent  humanity.  The  \ioy,  possessed 
of  luring  passions  and  appetites  and  evil  impulses,  is 
thoughtless  and  unsuspicious.  Before  him  in  the  dis- 
tance is  Satan,  waiting  with  malicious  leer,  fiendish 
exultation,  and  horrid  looks,  to  have  him  come  for- 
ward and  fall  into  his  hands.  An  angel  descending 
near  the  boj^  and  unseen  by  him,  thrusts  a  shield  be- 
fore his  eyes,  so  that  he  cannot  see  Satan  nor  his  peril, 
and  at  the  same  time  directs  his  attention  upward,  to 
safety  in  the  skies.  The  effect  of  this  invisible  and 
supernatural  interposition  is  to  change  the  course  of 
the  bo}',  and  lead  him  awa^-  from  the  destroyer. 

This  is  an  illustration  of  the  way  in  which  God  often 
interposes  to  save  us  from  destruction  and  do  us  good 
without  our  knowledge.  This  habit  of  his  is  brought 
out  in  the  text.  The  prophet  represents  God  as  tell- 
ing how  he  has  taken  care  of  his  people  from  their  na- 
tional infancy  up, — how,  like  a  mother  of  the  olden 

♦Preached  in  Sacramento,  April  20,  1S79,  and  subsequently  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, Oakland  and  Grass  Valley,  Cala.,  in  Orange,  N.  J.,  East  Calais,  Vt., 
and  Honolulu. 
18 


266  ISRAPX   EDSON    DWINELL. 

time,  he  taught  them  to  walk,  first  taking  them  by  the 
arms,  then  leading  them  by  soft  cords,  and  after  that 
using  easy  and  gentle  bands,  and  when  they  had  fallen 
and  hurt  themselv'es,  had  raised  them  up  and  healed 
them, — and  all  this,  often  without  their  knowledge, 
coming  to  them  as  an  invisible  presence,  an  ever  alert 
and  unknown  benefactor.  ' '  I  taught  Ephraim  also  to 
go,  taking  them  by  their  arms  ;  Imt  they  knew  not  that 
I  kittled  tlieni.  I  drew  them  with  the  cords  of  a  man, 
with  bands  of  love."  This  brings  God  before  us  in 
an  interesting  and  beautiful  light. 

M}'  subject  is  Unconscious  Help  from  God. 

It  is  not  strange  that  God,  who  is  love,  and  is  every- 
where present,  should  have  mysterious  ways  of  fore- 
fending  evil  and  doing  us  good.  He  is  the  soul  of  the 
world,  and  he  thinks,  plans,  acts  good,  and  in  num- 
berless waj^s  thwarts  evil,  giving  it  onh'  a  limited 
range.  Even  Herbert  Spencer,  who  seems  touched 
by  a  sense  of  the  underlying  beneficence,  makes  this 
back  handed  confession  :  ' '  There  is  no  vice  in  the 
constitution  of  things. "  No  vice  in  the  constitution  of 
things  !  No,  no  !  but  a  far-reaching,  thoughtful,  piti- 
ful, lurking,  overtaking  helpfulness.  The  mj-stery  is 
not,  with  God's  goodness  and  wealth  of  resources  and 
our  limited  capacity-  for  comprehending  his  ways,  that 
he  should  have  methods  of  helping  us  and  we  not  know 
them,  but  that  we  should  be  able  to  see  so  much  of  his 
kindness.  The  strangeness  is  not  that  there  are  hiding 
places  in  which  he  conceals  his  help  all  along  the  path- 
way of  life,  in  nature,  in  events,  in  conditions,  circum- 
stances and  experiences  ;  but  that  so  manj^  of  these 
interpositions  come  out  from  time  to  time,  and  reveal 
his  hand. 

God  meets  us  personally  with  his  brooding  care,  as 


SERMONS.  267 

vigilantly  and  thoughtfully  as,  according  to  the  text, 
he  did  the  Hebrew  nation.  The  New  Testament  lifts 
the  individual  into  prominence,  and  makes  him  the 
mark  of  a  specific  oversight  and  training.  He  is  not 
lost  in  the  nation,  or  in  the  myriads  belonging  to  the 
nations,  or  in  the  endless  worlds  and  details  of  the  uni- 
verse. Over  each  trusting  soul,  as  it  makes  the  jour- 
ney of  life,  is  the  glory  of  the  same  unseen  One  that 
brooded  over  the  exodus  and  the  march  through  the 
wilderness — the  pillar  of  cloud  by  day  and  the  pillar  of 
fire  by  night,  if  only  we  had  the  eye  to  see  it — shield- 
ing, training,  blessing,  chastening.  If  all  the  deliver- 
ances he  works  out  for  us  were  visible,  if  we  could  see 
all  the  instances  of  peril,  when  the  great  enemy,  with 
expectant  looks,  fiendish  exultation  and  malignant 
leer,  is  waiting  to  have  us  fall  into  his  hands,  while 
God  kindly  interposes,  diverting  our  thoughts  and 
changing  our  course,  we  should  have  a  wondrous 
picture  of  the  now  unrecognized  tender  ministries  of 
our  God.  Life  is  full  to  the  brim  of  this  unrecognized 
presence  and  help.  How  many  dangers  have  been  in 
our  way,  and  we  have  stood  on  their  brink,  likely  to 
go  over  were  it  not  for  an  unseen,  averting  hand  ;  but 
that  hand  was  there  and  we  escaped  !  How  many  fatal 
diseases  have  been  on  their  way  to  us,  and  something, 
a  mystery  to  us,  waved  them  aside,  and  we  still  live  ! 
How  many  temptations  have  singled  us  out,  at  one 
time  or  another,  and  come  straight  for  us  like  hungry 
lions  ;  and  yet  through  some  unaccountable  influence 
they  have  been  diverted  to  one  side,  or  we  have  been 
drawn  away  just  in  time  to  escape  the  deadly  spring  ! 
How  many  mistakes  and  even  sins  of  our  own,  which 
seemed  about  to  ruin  us,  we  have  risen  up  out  of  un- 
expectedly,   as   if  a  sorrowing    Friend,    without   our 


268  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

knowledge,  had  come  in  to  arrest  or  soothe  the  conse- 
quences !  We  say  there  is  a  recovering  power  in  the 
realm  of  nature  back  of  the  ordinary  forces  at  work,  so 
that  if  a  derangement  of  her  order  takes  place,  this  un- 
seen agency  steps  in,  covers  the  wound,  and  produces 
a  new  order  of  health  and  symmetry  over  it.  So  in 
the  kingdom  of  grace  there  is  a  kindly  healing  or  help- 
ing power  back  of  our  lives,  that  comes  to  us  to  cover 
the  wounds  we  inflict  on  ourselves,  to  bring  about  with 
our  co-operation  a  new  condition  of  moral  health  and 
vigor,  and  recover  us  from  our  sins.  How  many  are 
strangely  raised  up  after  falling  !  but  they  do  not  rec- 
ognize the  Unseen  One,  as  he  stoops  over  them  to  free 
them  from  the  snares  their  own  guiltiness  has  sprung 
upon  them. 

All  dangers  are  not  warded  off ;  all  temptations  are 
not  disarmed  ;  every  foe  is  not  thwarted  ;  every  grip 
of  evil  consequences  is  not  relaxed.  We  might  become 
presumptuous  in  that  case.  The  kind  Rescuer  is  care- 
ful to  let  us  have  smart  enough  as  a  motive  for  vigi- 
lance, and  to  bestow  his  invisible  friendship  only  in  a 
way  calculated  to  make  us  do  our  best. 

' '  Underneath  are  the  everlasting  arms  ' '  ;  but  he 
does  not  show  them,  and  we  cannot  see  just  how  they 
will  lead  us,  or  hold  us  up  when  otherwise  we  would 
stumble,  or  pull  us  out  of  our  sins  when  down  ;  and  so 
we  walk  carefully  as  if  unattended.  If  the  Serpent, 
by  our  foolish  intimacy  with  his  resorts,  is  allowed  to 
inflict  a  pang  now  and  then,  it  only  reminds  us  of  our 
constant  danger,  and  puts  us  the  more  on  our  guard . 
Ours  is  a  befriended,  not  a  cosseted  life  ;  a  watched 
and  inspired,  not  a  watched  and  weakened  manhood. 
Our  unseen  Helper  has  his  thought  on  our  worth  in 
the  skies,  not  on  our  ease  here,  and  adjusts  his  atten- 
tions accordingly. 


SERMONS.  269 

Moreover,  the  amount  of  God's  help,  hidden  or  oth- 
erwise, that  we  receive,  is  not  a  little  dependent  on 
our  drawing  near  and  looking  to  him  for  it.  A  trul}^ 
loving  and  prayerful  waiting  on  Him  for  mercies  leads 
Him  to  give  largely  in  all  the  ways  of  his  giving,  seen 
and  unseen,  open  and  hidden.  The  more  we  draw 
near  to  Him,  the  more  He  draws  near  to  us,  and  scat- 
ters around  us  the  overflowings  and  the  hidings  of  his 
mercy.  There  is  a  mysterious  power  in  the  human 
soul,  promised  and  given  on  condition  of  faith  and 
prayer,  to  draw  around  it  unknown  blessings.  In  this 
way  God,  so  to  speak,  goes  on  before  us  secreth*,  and 
charges  our  future  with  good  before  we  come  up  to  it. 
Calamities  are  thus  averted,  and  we  never  see  them  ; 
evils  are  avoided,  and  we  never  suspect  them  ;  bless- 
ings come  strangely  into  our  possession  that  we  had 
not  thought  of,  rising  like  apparitions  in  unsuspected 
places.  We  discover,  if  we  are  thoughtful  and  prayer- 
ful, that  in  whatever  w^ay  of  duty  we  go,  God  has  been 
there  before  us  with  numberless  concealments  of  good, 
awaiting  our  coming.  We  find  him,  in  nature,  bury- 
ing supplies,  as  of  coal  and  oil  and  artesian  water,  in 
secret  caches,  against  our  arrival,  and  surprising  us 
with  the  lurkings  of  his  fore-thoughtful  love  on  every 
side  ;  in  providence,  scattering  attentions  and  with- 
holding himself  from  observation,  sending  men  to  help 
us,  and  not  letting  them  or  us  know  that  it  was  He 
who  sent  them  ;  covering  in  a  storm-cloud,  with  thun- 
derings  and  lightnings,  some  of  the  most  tender  and 
delicate  gifts  ;  in  grace,  attending  us  as  a  loving  pres- 
ence, which,  if  we  had  faith  enough,  would  enable  us 
to  hear  him  say,  amidst  our  fears  :  "It  is  I,  be  not 
afraid!  "  in  our  weakness:  "  Lo,  lam  with  you  al- 
waj's,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world,"  and   in   our 


270  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

need:  "I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee." 
When  we  discover  these  things,  ma}'  we  not  well  say, 
as  did  Isaiah,  reciting  the  strange  and  unexpected 
methods  of  God's  mercy,  "  Verily,  thou  art  a  God  that 
liidest  thyself,  O  God  of  Israel,  the  Savior  ! ' ' 

What,  now,  should  be  the  practical  ou'come  of  this 
wondrous  truth  ?  Is  our  discovery  of  it  to  be  a  barren 
one  ?     Has  it  no  practical  meaning  and  use  ? 

It  should  open  deep  fountains  of  gratitude.  There 
are  blessings  enough  that  are  open  and  apparent  to  ex- 
cite our  warm  appreciation,  but  when  we  perceive  that 
these  are  onl}^  a  small  part  of  his  ways  of  help  and 
mercy  ;  that  we  see  the  rim  only  ;  that  his  thoughtful- 
ness  lies  about  us,  like  the  air  which  we  cannot  see, — 
how  our  thoughts  should  go  out  to  him  in  thankful- 
ness that  we  are  in  his  hands  !  In  whatever  way  we 
look  and  as  far  as  we  look  we  find  his  kindly  thought 
has  been  there  before  us,  and  we  know  that  farther 
than  we  look  or  can  look,  there  is  still  the  same  kind- 
ly thought,  the  same  planning  and  doing  and  conceal- 
ing himself.  This  should  touch  our  heart  and  awaken 
our  lofty  praise. 

This  discovery  should  inspire  confidence.  We  have 
troubles,  perplexities,  cares.  We  cannot  see  the  way 
through.  God  does  hot  reveal  himself  or  show  us  the 
light.  He  hides  himself.  But  we  know  it  is  his  habit 
to  scatter  good  in  unknown  wa3'S  all  along  our  path. 
Hitherto  He  has  healed  us  up  to  our  faith  and  beyond 
it,  and  often  when  we  knew  not  that  he  was  doing  it. 
Can  we  doubt  now  ?  May  we  not  know  in  advance 
that  He  who  is  the  same  yesterday-,  today  and  forever, 
is  about  us  in  these  hidings,  preparing  some  surprise 
of  blessing?  How  confidenth",  then,  at  all  times,  if 
we  have  yielded  our  hearts  to  Him,  may  we  look  into 


SERMONS.  271 

the  future,  since  we  know  that  God  is  there.  Not 
to  the  extent  of  what  we  can  see.  No  !  no  I  But  far 
more,  working  for  us  and  getting  mercies  in  readiness. 
We  are  marching  up  the  God-lined  avenue  to  the 
heavenh'  mansion.  Whose  heart  should  not  beat  with 
confidence  and  assurance  ?  How  can  one  distrust  when 
he  finds  himself  in  the  hands  of  Him  who  is  good  be- 
yond all  his  revealed  goodness,  who  plans  for  us  be- 
yond all  his  known  plannings,  and  who  helps  us  be- 
yond all  his  confessed  workings, — far,  far  beyond,  away 
off  in  the  receding  vista  ? 

This  discovery  should  also  lead  to  a  corresponding 
kind  of  love  and  devotion.  As  God  gives  far  beyond 
what  is  seen — throws  the  gift  and  hides  himself — so 
we  should  give  to  his  service  not  only  this  and  that 
deed  seen  b)^  men,  but  also  invisible  deeds,  concealed 
activities  of  good  will,  the  hidings  of  sympathy  and 
desire  for  the  advancement  of  his  cause,  the  secret 
things  of  our  souls.  We  cannot  give  and  hide  from 
God,  but  we  can  give  and  hide  from  man,  and  almost 
from  ourselves.  We  should  catch  and  reproduce  1,0 
much  of  the  spontaneous  and  multitudinous  love  of 
God,  falling  as  the  mist,  that  the  left  shall  not  know 
what  the  right  hand  does.  Our  devotion  should  go  up 
like  clouds  of  incense,  the  fragrance  of  which  reaches 
far  beyond  the  bounds  of  its  visible  progress.  We 
should  be  so  drawn  toward  Him  by  seeing  what  He  is 
to  us,  that  the  spiritual  substance  of  our  worship  shall 
be  seen  by  God,  mounting  up  to  Him  in  wavy,  hidden 
columns,  far  beyond  the  blazing  altar  fires  that  men 
look  upon. 

I  have  known  a  new  mother  to  come  into  a  family 
where  there  were  children  of  various  ages  from  three  to 
twenty  years,  some  of  whom  were  reluctant  to  have 


272  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

her  come  and  to  call  her  ' '  mother, ' '  but  her  tenderness 
and  devotion  were  so  hearty  and  sincere  and  thought- 
ful, springing  from  her  warm  and  loving  nature,  and 
leaning  to  so  many  surprises  and  delicate  revelations 
of  her  love  to  them,  that  before  two  years  had  passed 
she  had  captured  all  their  hearts.  They  could  not  help 
it.  They  would  have  been  untrue  and  unkind  to 
themselves,  not  to  respond  to  such  goodness  and  wis- 
dom. Shall  we  have  had  God's  love,  heart}^  constant, 
full  of  surprises  and  delicate  attentions,  all  these  years 
— twent}',  is  it?  or  thirty?  forty?  sixty?  and  not 
been  won  yet  ?  Is  there  no  yielding,  no  response,  no 
softening  of  heart  ?  O  I^ord,  dry  not  up  this  won- 
drous fountain  of  thy  merc}"  !  Take  not  away  th}^ 
patience  and  forbearance  !  Tr}'  us  a  little  longer ! 
Cut  not  down  yet  the  barren  fig  tree.  Let  it  alone  this 
year  also  ;  dig  about  it,  dress  it  still,  and  let  the  invis- 
ible dews  of  thy  love,  the  light  of  the  sun  seen  and  of 
the  sun  clouded  fall  on  it ;  and  if  it  bear  fruit,  well. 
Thy  wondrous  love,  O  Lord,  is  a  great  deep,  a  great 
height  !  When  we  can  count  all  the  sands  on  the  sea- 
shore ;  when  we  can  tell  all  the  stars  in  the  sky  ;  when 
we  can  enumerate  all  the  particles  in  the  air  ;  then  ma^^ 
we  form  some  estimate  of  the  outflowings  of  thy  love  ! 
But,  O  God,  we  can  praise  thee,  we  can  love  thee. 
The  insect's  eye  can  be  opened  towards  the  broad 
heavens.     Help  us  to  love  toward  thee  ! 


*GOD'S  SAYIXG  SHOULD  BE  OUR  DOING. 


"  lYow,  then,  whatsoever  God  hat Ii  said  unto  thee,  do.'' — Gen. 
31 :  16. 

This  is  safe  advice.  There  is  no  risk  in  my  repeat- 
ing it,  or  in  3'our  following  it.  It  is  a  safe  rule  to  adopt 
ever3'where.  "  Whatsoever  God  hath  said  unto  thee, 
do."  The  only  difficulty  about  it,  practicall}-,  is  in 
knowing  that  God  speaks  to  us,  and  in  having  the 
delicacy  and  tact  to  discriminate  what  he  saj^s,  and 
not  mistake  it  for  other  things,  or  other  things  for  that, 
and  then  doing  it. 

You  have  the  outlines  of  my  thought  for  this  morn- 
ing. 

The  first  thing  is.  Does  God  speak  to  us?  Yes,  in 
many  ways. 

It  would  relieve  us  of  much  embarrassment  if  He 
had  some  peculiar  sign  about  his  w^ay  of  doing  it  which 
could  not  be  mistaken, — if,  e.  g..  He  spoke  with  one 
kind  of  audible  voice,  and  men  with  another.  But 
this  would  be  a  mechanical  system  of  training,  and 
God's  system  is  spiritual,  appealing  to  faith,  trust,  and 
love.  Yet  in  a  spiritual  way  God  speaks  to  human 
hearts  and  consciences,  as  really  and  authoritatively  as 
he  did  to  Abraham  or  Moses, — not  now  in  ear-language, 
but  heart-language. 

*  Preached  in  Sacrameuto  April  17,  1S81. 


274  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINKLL. 

There  are  messages  to  us  in  his  written  Word.     All 
the  principles  of  duty  to  God,  man,  and  self  laid  down 
there  are  his  messages  to  us,  as  distinctly  and  definiteh' 
as  to  those  to  whom  they  first  came.     This  covers  the 
whole  method  of  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ,  and 
the  essence  of  practical  religion.     The  Bible  is  God's 
line  of  telegraphing   to  us  ;  and   through  it  he  tele- 
graphs  to    you   what    you  need    as  a  soul, — not  the 
actions  you  need  to  do,  but  the  spirit,  the  motives,  the 
affections,  the  aims,  the  principles,   you  need  to  have 
as  a  man, — not  what  3'ou  need  as  the  inhabitant  of  th;s 
place,  or  that,  or  belonging  to  this  race  or  that  race, 
but  as  a  man, — not  as  living  in  the  first  century  or  the 
tw^entieth,  but  as  a  man, — not  as  a  wise  man  or  a  weak 
one,  but  simph'  as  a  man, — not  as  old  or  j^oung,   but 
as  a  man.   Do  not  forget  that  in  the  Bible  be  is  simply 
telegraphing  to  3'ou  as  a  man  ;  and  it  matters  not  on 
such  a  point  whether  the  telegraphic  line  be  long  or 
short,  whether  it  reach  from  Christ  to  those  about  Him 
on  the  earth,  as  during  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,   or 
all  the  way  from  the  first  century  down  to  the   nine- 
teenth or  the  one  hundredth  ;  the  message  has  the  same 
pertinency  and  directness  to  mari   as   a  man.     When 
man  ceases  to  be  a  man  on  earth,  and  has  grown  into 
something  bej'ond,  and  has  none  of  the  needs  of  a  man, 
this  telegraph  will  be  wound  up,   or  cease  to  deliver 
messages  ;  but  till  then,  to  all  to  whom  it  comes  it  will 
say,  direct  from  Christ's  heart,  "  Come  unto  me  all  ye 
that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,   and  I  will  give  you 
rest." 

There  are  also  messages  through  conscience.  The 
right,  the  pure,  the  good,  which  conscience  sees  and 
urges  us  to  seek — I  mean  the  truh-  right,  pure,  good, 
that  which  is  seen  to  be  such  by  an  enlightened  con- 


SERMONS.  275 

science,  not  that  which  is  imagined  to  be  such  by  a 
blinded  conscience.  This  is  God's  will  and  thought  to 
us  in  reference  to  the  practical  matters  of  every  day. 
God  fills  out  through  the  spaces  and  blanks  left  in  the 
written  Word.  God  speaks  through  such  a  conscience 
just  as  truly,  though  not  in  the  same  mechanical  way, 
as  a  musician  acting  on  the  key-board  communicates 
his  thought  through  the  instrument,  and  it  comes  forth 
in  the  notes  of  music  much  more  fully  than  it  appears 
on  the  written  score.  God  has  put  the  conscience  in 
the  soul,  that  he  may  thus  speak  through  it  and  round 
out  his  meaning.  We  may  have  allowed  the  instru- 
ment to  get  out  of  tune  somewhat,  and  often  are  not 
particular  to  distinguish  between  what  proceeds  from 
it  and  other  sounds.  Yet  there  are  true  divine  note« 
issuing  from  it,  in  reference  to  the  filling  out  beyond 
what  is  in  the  Bible,  the  outline  of  practical  duties. 

Then  there  are  at  times  direct  suggestions  from  the 
Spirit  of  God.  The  veil  between  the  Good  Spirit  and 
our  spirit  is  not  so  thick  and  heav}^  but  that  there  are 
movings  and  intimations  of  his  pleasure  through  it,  as 
you  have  seen  the  form  of  a  person  as  he  passed  along 
on  the  other  side  of  a  curtain  and  brushed  it.  You 
may  call  them  movings  of  the  Good  Spirit,  suggestions, 
intimations,  inspirations,— no  matter  ;  you  have  felt 
them.  They  seem  dropped  down  from  above.  They 
come  with  the  tinge  and  tone  of  a  supernatural  origin, 
now  as  reproofs,  now  calls  to  courage  and  hopefulness 
and  trust,  now  as  illuminations,  and  now  as  stimulus  to 
duty.  Ah  !  do  not  attempt  to  erase  or  conceal  their 
divine  origin,  or  the  divine  superscription  on  them. 
God  is  nearer  to  us  at  such  times  than  we  may  sup- 
pose, and  we  do  wrong  to  misuse  his  presence. 

Again,  God  speaks  to  us  through  the  words  and  lives 


276  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

of  his  people,  the  ongoings  of  his  providence  and  nature. 
There  are  out-gleamings  around  particular  words  and 
examples  and  occurrences  and  sights  at  times,  as  if  a 
divine  light  were  put  under  them  —  and  there  is, — 
and  they  shine  down  to  the  waiting  and  appreciative 
heart  as  illuminated  messages  from  above.  L,ook  back 
over  life  to  certain  experiences  that  have  not  faded 
out.  Do  3'ou  not  remember  the  meaning  there  was 
once  in  that  good  man's  words,  that  saint's  life,  or 
that  pleading  look,  or  that  warm  grasp  ?  Have  you 
forgotten  how  the  interests  of  eternity  rayed  out  from 
that  death,  and  said  to  you  :  "  Prepare  to  meet  thy 
God  ?  "  or  how  once  a  meaning  at  other  times  kept 
back  shot  out  from  the  stars,  or  flowers,  or  mountains, 
or  gorges,  or  falls,  or  ocean,  and  you  found  yourself 
in  the  Divine  presence  ?  Nature  and  providence  and 
humanity  have  their  illuminations,  and  they  are  never 
so  bright  and  holy  as  when  God  shines  out  through 
them  on  the  waiting  soul ;  for  God  is  not  so  veiled 
behind  his  works  but  that  He  at  times  lifts  the  veil  to 
look  in  our  face. 

Thus  the  Good  Spirit  is  all  about  us,  passing  in  or 
ready  to  pass  in  heavenly  messages.  We  are  not  so 
orphaned  and  bereft  of  the  Divine  Fatherhood,  that  he 
has  withdrawn  all  his  fresh  communications  from  us. 
Nay,  nay;  he  scatters  them  as  seeds  of  life  with  a  boun- 
tiiul  hand,  and  though  we  maj^  not  welcome  them,  and 
though,  as  in  the  natural  world,  millions  of  these 
divinely-shed  seeds  may  perish  to  one  that  grows,  yet 
they  are  all  fresh  products  of  his  interest  and  goodness, 
and  adapted  to  put  his  thought  in  our  thought,  and 
draw  our  will  to  his  will. 

The  next  thing  is  :  "  How  can  we  know  the  mes- 
sages that  come  from  God  ?  "     Many  of  them  come,  as 


SERMONS.  277 

we  have  seen,  along  human  or  earthly  instruments, 
side  by  side,  often  of  earthly  voices.  How  shall  we 
discriminate  them  ?  We  need  some  test,  some  means 
of  identification.  We  have  it.  It  is,  first  of  all,  the 
Bible.  That  is  the  touch-stone.  Whatever  is  contrary 
to  the  spirit  and  genius  of  that,  whatever  conflicts 
with  the  methods  and  principles  of  spiritual  life  therein 
outlined,  however  plausible  or  beautiful  or  alluring  it 
may  be,  you  may  know  is  a  voice  from  below.  Men 
have  followed  voices  manj^  times,  calling  them  the 
voices  of  God,  that  have  led  away  from  Revelation  out 
into  fanaticism,  or  intolerance,  or  corruption,  or  vice^ 
or  crime  ;  and  followed  them  down  to  the  death  that 
never  dies.  But  I  have  never  known  or  heard  of  a 
man  who  followed  an  impulse  that  strongly  beset  and 
moved  him  as  from  God,  that  harmonized  with  the 
spirit  of  the  Bible,  who  was  not  led  nearer  to  God  by 
it,  giving  evidence  in  the  result  that  the  voice  was  a 
voice  of  God. 

We  have  also  a  secondary  test,  which  may  be  used 
under  the  Bible,  but  not  alone.  It  is  conformity  to 
the  pure,  the  good,  the  noble,  the  godly.  Whatever 
impulse  draws  us  towards  this,  if  it  be  the  truly  pure, 
good,  noble,  godly,  and  thus  indirectly  harmonious 
with  Scripture,  we  may  know  is  an  impulse  from  God. 
It  may  come  along  to  us  across  an  earthly  instrument, 
but  the  message  communicates  God's  thought,  ex- 
presses his  will,  and  agrees  with  his  previous  written 
instructions,  and  we  cannot  resolve  it  into  the  mean- 
ingless clicking  of  the  machine  employed  in  sending 
it.  When  you  go  into  a  telegraph  office  and  hear  the 
clicking,  you  may  recognize  no  intelligence  back  of 
the  strange  sounds, — you  may  at  first  only  perceive 
electricity  and  machinery  and  lines  of  wire, — but  when 


278  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

all  at  once  a  definite  message,  click  bj^  click,  is  copied 
and  handed  out  to  you,  giving  the  thought  and  will  of 
a  friend  on  the  other  side  of  the  continent,  and  har- 
monizing and  dovetailing  with  the  facts  given  in  a 
fuller  letter  previoush^  received,  you  see  something 
more  than  the  instrument,  you  see  the  intelligence  that 
has  flashed  its  thought  to  you  ;  your  friend  is  commu- 
nicating with  3'ou,  and  5'ou  do  not  resolve  the  result 
into  electricity,  but  have  a  message  from  your  friend. 
So  when  a  divine  thought  comes  into  your  mind,  a 
divine  impulse,  along  a  falling  star,  a  rainbow,  a  fu- 
neral procession,  a  remark,  a  sermon,  a  recollection, 
agreeing  with  Revelation,  fitting  its  facts,  and  enforc- 
ing its  duties,  you  may  know  it  comes  from  the  divine 
friend.  Do  not  resolve  it  into  a  product  of  the  instru- 
ment. 

You  see,  then,  m\'  friends,  that  in  consequence  of 
the  multitude  of  these  inflowing  messages  and  the  pos- 
sibility and  ease  of  identifying  them,  the  advice  we 
have  before  us  furnishes  a  most  fertile  practical  rule. 
"  Whatsoever  God  hath  said  unto  thee,  do. "  It  is  the 
counsel  for  every  daj"  and  hour,  wherever  there  is  a 
right  and  a  wrong,  a  good  to  be  done  or  left  undone  ; 
for  there,  however  our  human  sense  or  weakness  may 
name  it,  God  speaks. 

We  should  be  very  tender  and  observant  towards 
those  thronging  but  gentle  intimations.  If  we  are  rude 
towards  them,  coarse,  unappreciative,  earthly,  we  may 
not  only  fail  to  catch  the  divine  ring,  the  divine  intel- 
ligence on  the  other  side  of  them,  and  so  lose  the  em- 
phasis of  the  communication,  but  we  finally  lose  the 
connection  and  the  communications  themselves.  On 
the  other  hand,  if  we  cherish  and  obey  these  voices, 
this  will  become  more  distinct  and  marked,  and  we 


SERMONS.  279 

shall  have  more  of  them.  To  keep  in  communion 
with  them,  therefore,  "  Whatsoever  God  hath  said  un- 
to thee,  do."  Obey  conscience  in  little  things,  be- 
cause 5'ou  hear  God  behind,  saying  "  Do  it."  Follow 
the  impulse  to  true  benevolence  daily,  because  you 
hear  God  behind,  saying  ' '  Do  it. ' '  Cherish  every  rev- 
erent thought,  every  aspiration  to  a  pure  and  noble 
manhood,  every  drawing  towards  faith,  charity,  piety, 
because  God  is  under  them  and  speaking  through 
them, — and  soon  you  will  feel  that  your  whole  moral 
and  spiritual  life  is  brought  into  direct  relations  to  God, 
and  his  authority  and  influence  everywhere  reach  j^ou. 

Further,  the  habit  of  doing  what  you  are  divinely 
prompted  to  do  will  very  quickty  lead  you  to  God.  It 
is  not  by  great  occasions  and  great  strides  that  you  can 
best  vindicate  a  disposition  to  approach  him,  but  by 
doing  just  the  things  before  you,  great  or  small,  to 
which  he  calls.  Obedience  is  shown  in  obe^-ing,  not 
in  waiting  for  great  opportunities.  If  you  should  tell 
a  child  to  pick  up  a  pin,  and  he  should  refuse  to  do  it, 
and  say  he  should  wait  till  he  was  told  to  do  a  man's 
work  or  do  some  great  thing,  his  spirit  would  be  no 
more  inconsistent  than  that  of  those  who  refuse  to  obey 
God  in  the  little  things  of  current  duty  enforced  by 
these  small  voices  of  God,  and  wait  for  grand  chances. 
To  be  true  to  Him,  therefore,  "  Whatsoever  God  hath 
said  unto  thee,  do."  Everything  which  comes  to  you 
with  that  peculiar  emphasis — ' '  He  hath  said  unto 
thee" — do  it.     The  habit  leads  upward. 

Moreover,  this  disposition  is  itself  pleasing  to  God. 
It  secures  his  favor  and  sympathy  at  once.  He  likes 
and  rewards  the  teachableness,  the  faithfulness,  the 
devotion.  He  says,  "  That  is  my  child ;  he  lias  respect 
unto  my  commandvients  ;  I  ivill  ivatch  over  him  as  the 
apple  of  mine  eye.'' 


28o  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

Of  course,  also,  there  is  an  unspeakable  satisfaction 
in  such  a  habit  of  obedience.  When  5^ou  have  sifted 
out  the  other  messages  and  impulses  by  means  of  the 
safe  tests,  and  have  the  clearl}^  divine  will  left,  and 
then  act  on  these  messages,  you  know  you  have  some- 
thing solid  under  you  ;  you  know^  you  are  on  the  right 
side,  that  3^ou  have  the  approval  of  God,  and  that  your 
labors  will  be  at  once  most  beautiful  and  most  benefi- 
cent. To  have  no  internal  misgivings  and  to  be  as- 
sured of  the  best  and  most  glorious  outward  results, 
therefore,  "Whatsoever  God  hath  said  unto  thee,  do." 

Once  more,  if  you  should  start  today  honestl}^  doing 
this — honestly  finding  out  what  God  says,  and  then 
honestly  doing  it, — it  will  mark  a  crisis  in  your  spirit- 
ual history,  if  that  crisis  has  not  already  been  passed. 
The  moment  you  begin  to  do  what  God  says  because 
He  says  it  and  for  his  sake,  not  because  it  is  the  teach- 
ing of  conscience  or  nature  or  events,  the  great  revolu- 
tion within  has  begun,  and  you  start  for  the  skies  and 
above  them.  If  you  start  on  the  purpose  and  principle 
to  do  all  that  God  tells  you,  it  makes  no  difference 
wdiether  the  first  step  is  giving  a  cup  of  cold  water,  or 
following  Christ  as  James  and  Peter  and  John  did  upon 
the  Mount,  it  leads  along  the  same  line  of  obedience  to 
the  same  result ;  and  that  true  starting  is  the  mount 
of  transfiguration  to  your  soul.  The  act  may  be  small, 
but  the  motion,  the  principle,  is  grand,  and  eternal 
things  turn  on  it.  You  need  no  imposing  event,  no 
wonderful  providence,  no  peculiar  and  rare  combina- 
tion of  circumstances,  no  rush  and  roar  of  powers, 
divine  or  otherwise,  to  furnish  an  occasion  that  shall 
write  your  name  among  the  sons  of  God.  Adopt  this 
rule,  and  it  is  done  ;  for  by  that  act  you  step  out  of 
the  old  dominion  of  self- pleasing  and  self-seeking  into 


SEKMONS.  281 

one  in  which  God  is  the  center  and  end  ;  jou  cross  the 
border-line  and  enter  the  kingdom  of  the  sons  of  God. 
My  friends,  this  principle  has  brought  us  where  you 
see  it  has  a  most  delightful  and  blessed  issue.  It  issues 
in  friendship  with  God, — eternal  life,  and  heaven.  The 
principle  is  itself  broad, — obedience  to  God  in  all  things. 
' '  Whatsoever  God  hath  said  unto  thee,  do. "  I  would 
not  abate  the  importance  or  urgency  of  the  rule  any- 
where, but  would  remind  you  of  the  special  and  tran- 
scendent importance  of  observing  it  in  relation  to  every 
intimation  of  direct  duty  to  God.  If  3-ou  slacken  any- 
where, slacken  not  here.  Whatsoever  calls  and  prompt- 
ings 3'ou  receive  towards  prayer,  the  Sanctuary,  the 
Sabbath,  the  Church,  the  Son  of  God, — whatever  draw- 
ings towards  faith,  submission,  love, — whatever  con- 
victions of  duty  are  breathed  into  your  spirit  from  time 
to  time,  in  reference  to  the  hereafter  ;  whatsoever  God 
says  to  you  in  his  Word  or  by  his  Spirit  directly  per- 
taining to  salvation, — oh  I  give  the  most  anxious  heed 
to  all  this,  for  it  is  of  supreme  moment  to  you.  Ob- 
serve all  intimations  of  God's  will,  but  fail  not  of  those 
which  He  Himself  is  careful  to  emphasize  as  He  does 
no  others,  which  point  you  to  the  Savior.  Remember 
this  is  the  end  to  which  all  God's  voices  are  designed 
and  adapted  sooner  or  later  to  lead.  The^'  all  call  you 
towards  the  Savior  ;  and  if  you  follow^  even  the  lowest 
and  remotest,  one  voice  wall  lead  you  up  to  another 
and  give  place  to  it,  till  combined  they  conduct  you  to 
Him.  Therefore,  when  God  calls  you  to  Him,  at  once 
take  the  cross-cut,  and  do  not  go  round  b}'  star,  and 
waterfall,  and  flower,  and  conscience,  and  humanity  ; 
come  at  once  to  Christ,  and  have  the  sense  of  pardon 
and  acceptance  immediately,  instead  of  groping  on  in 
the  lower  reaches  of  obedience.  By  listening  to  the 
19 


282  ISRAEL  EDSON   DWINELL- 

religious  calls  you  may  strike  at  once  for  the  heights 
of  salvation,  where  you  can  sing  the  song  of  the  re- 
deemed :  "  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  live th.  "  Cherish, 
then,  above  all  else  the  intimations  of  religious  duty, 
the  leadings  to  the  place  of  prayer,  the  promptings  to 
reverence  and  honor  God,  and  to  bow  the  soul  to  the 
reigning  and  saving  grace  of  Jesus. 


VI. 
*"IvEAD  ME  TO  THK  ROCK." 


"  Lead  ine  to  the  Rock  that  is  higher  than  /." — Psalm  6i :  2. 

Introduction. — In  the  ancient  civilizations,  in  time  of 
danger,  men  fled  to  high  rocks  or  cliffs,  or  walled 
towns.  They  shunned  the  open  country  and  plains. 
Hence  it  was  a  great  thing  with  a  people  if  they  could 
build  their  city  on  a  high  hill,  and  have  a  citadel  on 
the  highest  point  of  that,  where  they  could  be  com- 
paratively safe  when  pressed  by  their  enemies. 

The  imagery  of  the  text  grows  out  of  this  custom. 
Let  us  apply  the  truth  suggested  by  it,  and  lying  back 
of  it,  to  our  own  times,  and  to  human  needs  now. 

I.  The  first  thing  suggested  is  that  man  naturally 
has  a  sense  of  weakness  and  danger. 

(a.)  Amid  the  phj^sical  forces  of  nature — the  storms, 
floods,  C3'clones,  earthquakes — he  is  as  nothing. 

(b.)  The  mighty  powers  of  Providence,  generally 
restrained,  but  sometimes  let  loose — pestilence,  famine, 
sickness,  accidents — often  hedge  us  in,  and  we  find 
ourselves  met  with  a  mightier  will  than  our  own,  be- 
fore which  we  are  nothing. 

(c.)  We  are  as  nothing  before  the  wild  passions  and 
contentions  of  men. 

"Outline  of  a  seriiion  preached  extemporaneously  in  Plymouth  .A. venue 
Church,  Oakland,  March  16,  1890, and  repeated  at  Pilgrim  Church,  Oakland, 
and  at  Vacaville." 


284  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

(d.)  There  is  at  times  a  sense  of  fearful  danger  from 
the  fact  that  we  are  sinners.  We  have  incurred  pen- 
alties that  are  already  pursuing  us,  and  feel  that  more 
fearful  retributions  will  overtake  us  by  and  by. 

From  such  experiences  of  weakness  and  peril  we 
want  a  retreat,  and  cry  out :  ' '  Lead  me  to  the  Rock 
that  is  higher  than  I. ' ' 

II.  The  second  point  is,  that  nothing  inferior  or  on 
a  level  with  us  can  be  the  refuge  we  need.  An  equal 
would  be  swayed  and  driven  hither  and  yon,  as  well 
as  ourselves,  by  these  mighty  forces  to  which  we  are 
exposed,  (a.)  We  cannot  entrust,  therefore,  our  im- 
mortal souls  to  any  man  or  combination  of  men.  (b.) 
Nor  can  we  trust  them  to  law  or  nature  ;  for  they  are 
beneath  us,  blind,  unconscious,  and  of  themselves  move 
on  with  steady  and  irreversible  tread  over  friend  and 
foe.  They  can  make  no  adaptations.  They  cannot 
come  to  our  needs,  (c.)  Nor  can  we  entrust  ourselves 
to  our  doings  or  moralities.  The}^  cannot  overcome 
our  sense  of  guilt,  nor  satisfy  our  longings  for  assurance 
of  safety.  We  cry,  therefore,  "  Lead  us  to  the  Rock 
that  is  higher  than  I." 

III.  When  we  have  this  experience,  nothing  short 
of  God  can  be  the  refuge  we  seek.  We  are  so  consti- 
tuted, being  made  in  the  image  of  God,  that  when  we 
come  to  a  sense  of  our  real  need  we  cannot  stop  short 
of  him.  No  angel  can  satisfy  us,  no  archangel,  no 
"  principalit}'  or  power  "  above.  We  must  have  God 
— one  who  has  made  us,  to  whom  we  are  responsible 
— our  Father.  Our  cry  is,  * '  Lead  me  to  the  Rock  that 
is  higher  than  /. ' ' 

IV.  The  Rock  is  accessible  through  the  incarnation 
of  the  Son  of  God.  In  this  way  its  base  rests  on  the 
earth.     God  in  this  manner  is  accessible  to  every  hu- 


SERMONS.  285 

man  being.  There  we  may  mount  up  to  Him  and  have 
the  protection  of  his  omnipotence,  his  grace,  his  friend- 
ship.     He  who  finds  Christ,  finds  the  Father. 

V.  But,  oh  !  the  weakness  of  human  nature,  even 
when  it  has  high  desires.  We  cannot  go  to  the  ' '  Rock 
that  is  higher  than  I  "  alone.  We  need  help  and  cry 
out,  ' '  Lead  me,  oh  lead  me  !  ' '  This  is  the  very  office 
of  the  Spirit.  How  wonderful  I  Christ,  the  Rock,  is 
not  indifferent.  He  yearns  as  much  as  we  to  have  us 
sheltered  and  protected  on  the  Rock,  and  sends  down 
the  Divine  Spirit  to  draw  us  to  it,  and  to  create  in  us 
the  desire  to  be  led. 

Conclusion.     Behold  the  Rock,  and  flee  to  it  ! 


VII. 


*  CHURCH    FELLOWSHIP  —  WHAT    DOEvS    IT 
MEAN  AMONG  CONCxREGATlONAEISTS  ? 

It  means  all  it  means  in  the  way  of  fellowship  be- 
tween churches  in  other  denominations  ;  and  it  means 
a  great  deal  more  than  in  any  other  denomination  ex- 
cept such  as  have  the  same  polity. 

I.  Let  us,  then,  briefly  glance  at  it  in  this  general 
aspect,  simply  as  fellowship  between  sister  churclies, 
before  we  consider  its  distinctive  use  in  our  polit}'. 

(a)  Fellowship  is  certainly  a  blessed  principle  in 
itself.  Churches  which  cherish  fellowship  toward  one 
another,  which  have  the  interplay  of  confidence,  love 
and  devotion  which  this  implies,  no  matter  what  the 
principles  of  organization  which  bind  them  together, 
are  in  a  happy  state.  Jealousies  and  rivalries  are  ex- 
tinguished. They  take  pleasure  in  one  another's  pros- 
perity.    They  constitute  a  loving  sisterhood. 

(b)  Such  a  condition,  moreover,  illustrates  the 
spirit  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ.     There  may  be,  indeed, 

♦This  paper  has  been  prepared  as  a.  family  paper,  with  the  confidences  and 
the  frankness  intended  only  for  the  family  ear.  I.est  persons  of  other 
families  should  be  overmuch  troubled  by  anything  said,  the  writer  wishes 
to  say  that  he  confesses  that  they  all  have  special  things  which  they  con- 
gratulate themselves  for  in  their  private  family  talks,  which  seem  to  them 
equally  to  their  advantage  :  and  he  commends  them  to  a  recollection  of 
this  for  their  comfort  now. — I.  K.  I). 

This  address  was  the  last  literary  work  of  its  author.  It  was  prepared 
for  the  General  Association  of  Southern  California,  at  its  meeting  held  in 
Santa  Barbara.  His  failing  strength  prevented  his  attendance.  The  paper 
was  read  by  another  May  15,  1S90,  three  weeks  previous  to  his  death. 


288  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

fellowship  on  a  lower  ground  ;  as,  in  persecution,  in 
putting  down  heres5%  in  making  proselytes,  pushing  a 
creed  or  a  politj-.  But  these  are  counterfeits.  True 
church  fellowship — the  only  kind  I  have  in  mind — is 
around  Christ  and  breathes  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel. 
Dead  churches  have  it  not,  false  churches  have  other 
ambitions,  waj^ward  churches  are  chasing  mirages. 
Churches  that  see  in  one  another  the  face  of  Christ,  and 
join  hearts,  bring  down  heaven  on  earth. 

(c)  Again,  fellowship  is  a  great  pozuer,  as  thus 
witnessed.  Its  presence  is  a  divine  touch  thrilling  the 
world.  No  one  can  witness  the  spectacle  without  be- 
ing moved  b}^  it.  The  moral  power  of  a  single  Christly 
church  is  great  ;  that  of  a  group  of  Christly  churches 
many  times  greater  ;  and  the  moral  power  of  such  a 
group  illustrating  the  celestial  quality  of  fellowship 
through  a  denomination  inconceivable  greater  still. 
Fellowshipping  churches  are  in  the  eyes  of  men  the 
march  of  a  massed  army  ;  unfellowshipping,  the  mere 
demonstration  of  individual  scouts. 

Congregational  churches  share  in  all  these  general 
advantages  of  fellowship  as  much  as  any  other  denom- 
ination ;  and  naturally,  more  than  the  compact  de- 
nominations, because  thrown  more  upon  them  in  their 
intercourse.  The  compact  denominations  are.  held 
together  by  other  powers,  and  are  thus  kept  in  com- 
mon march  and  rhythm.  Yet  often  the  absorption  of 
interest  in  those  powers,  and  the  friction  resulting 
from  them,  arrest  fellowship. 

Congregationalists,  on  the  other  hand,  depend  on 
fellowship  for  their  denominational  existence,  and  so 
cultivate  it. 

II.  Fellowship,  therefore,  plays  a  much  more  prom- 
inent part  in  Congregationalism  than  the  general  ad- 


SERMONS.  289 

vantages  of  it  which  I  have  named.   It  is  our  organizing 
principle. 

But  before  speaking  of  it  in  this  way,  as  the  organ 
izing  or  structural  principle  binding  our  churches  to- 
gether, I  wish  to  call  attention  to  the  position  it  really 
holds  in  the  individual  church — a   unique  point,  and 
generally  overlooked. 

We  speak  of  the  self-government  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  This  term,  if  applied  in  a  loose,  pop- 
ular sense,  is  proper  enough,  but  strictly  it  is  inappli- 
cable. The  principle  of  government  is  a  very  modified 
principle  in  our  churches.  It  is  wot  government  at  all. 
There  is  no  absolute  governing  power  lodged  anywhere 
in  them — in  the  pastor,  the  officers,  the  majority,  the 
Church.  We  say  "  the  majority  rules,'  and  it  does, 
but  it  is  not  because  it  has  a  right  to  rnle.  In  ruling, 
in  the  Congregational  way,  the  Church  does  not  gov- 
ern the  minority,  or  even  the  members  voting  with  it, 
or  itself.  But  it  expresses  in  this  way  the  mind  of  the 
great  number,  and  all  have  agreed  to  accspt  that  as 
settling  the  course  to  be  pursued.  It  is  really  a  system 
of  fellowship,  voiced  by  majorities,  but  to  be  voluntarily 
followed  by  all.  Nobody  is  governed.  All  govern 
themselves,  but  in  the  methods  and  within  the  bounds 
of  the  expressed  opinion  of  the  majority-. 

To  particularize  :  The  doctrine  of  the  church  is  not 
imposed  on  the  members  ;  it  is  a  fellowship  of  doctrine. 
The  officers  are  not  clothed  with  authority,  but  repre- 
sent and  S2rve  a  fellowship.  Discipline  is  a  helpful  or 
corrective  procedure,  not  a  judicial  process.  Aggres- 
sive movements  are  the  output  of  common  counsels  and 
devotion,  not  the  result  of  ecclesiastical  orders. 

This  overlooked  idea  of  fellowship  in  the  individual 
church  accounts  for  many  things  in  Congregationalism 


2gO  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

distinguishing  it  from  the  authoritative  denominations  ; 
as,  the  freedom  and  individuality  of  thought  it  encour- 
ages ;  the  impossibiUty  of  cramping  Congregationalists 
in  a  narrow  denominational  spirit  ;  their  readiness  to 
give  freely  to  outside  Christian  objects  ;  and  the  ease 
vi^ith  which  our  ministers  and  laymen,  not  realizing  the 
difference  between  a  system  of  fellowship  and  one  of 
authority  till  it  is  too  late,  go  into  other  folds. 

Congregationalists,  thus,  are  nowhere  governed, 
either  in  the  separate  church  or  in  the  sisterhood.  No- 
where ;  never.  The  idea  is  absolutely  foreign  to  them. 
They  have  never  had  a  taste  of  that  experience.  They 
are  familiar  in  the  church  with  the  restrictions  of  fel- 
lowship. They  have  proposed  measures  that  did  not 
carr}^.  Thej'  have  been  with  majorities  and  minorities 
in  reference  to  policies,  doctrines  and  men.  But  only 
Christ  and  his  word  and  their  own  self-hood  govern 
them.  Theirs  is  a  polity  of  fellowship  even  in  the  sin- 
gle church,  not  of  government. 

But  fellowship  is  our  organizing  denominational 
principle.  We  are  now  prepared  to  consider  its  position 
and  influence,  as  such  a  principle,  in  uniting  the 
churches  and  making  a  sisterhood  of  them.  In  our 
economy  this  is  the  ni3'Stic  wand  that,  moved  among 
them,  groups  them  together  and  makes  of  them  one 
body.  It  is  our  only  denominational  organizing  prin- 
ciple. It  is  not  constitutions  that  bind  our  churches 
together,  or  laws,  or  resolutions,  or  creeds,  or  traditions, 
or  heredity,  or  an}^  ecclesiastical  power  ;  only  the  mys- 
tic bonds  of  fellowship,  as  soft  as  silk,  as  strong  as  iron, 
as  invisible  as  light.  When  a  church  decides  to  be  a 
Congregational  church,  it  takes  on  itself,  without  wait- 
ing for  hint  or  spur  from  anyone  else,  to  illustrate  the 
law  of  love  towards  other  Congregational  churches.   It 


SERMONS.  291 

accepts  the  principle  of  mutual  helpfulness — puts  itself 
on  the  methods  and  within  the  limits  of  that  princi]  le. 
It  says,  "  I  will  be  a  sister  with  sisters,  and  fulfill  all 
the  sisterly  offices.  I  recognize  no  superior — to  hold 
me  up  to  this — but  the  unseen  Ta.skmaster.  I  do  it 
voluntarily.  It  shall  come  about  by  my  own  virtue  and 
sense  of  honor." 

When  a  church  comes  with  this  spirit,  and  knocks, 
and  the  sisterhood  lets  her  in,  recognizing  her  sisterly 
qualities,  it  is  a  regular  Congregational  church,  and  as 
long  as  it  retains  this  spirit  it  remains  so.  If  at  any 
future  time  it  should  abandon  the  law  of  love  and  help- 
fulness, and  seek  only  its  own  things,  it  would  break 
the  invisible  bond  binding  it  to  the  others,  and  it  would 
cease  to  be  a  Congregational  church  in  reality,  what- 
ever it  might  be  in  name.  It  is  no  longer  of  us. 
"They  went  out  from  us,  but  they  were  not  .of  us." 
By  that  act  it  shows  that  it  is  destitute  of  our  distin- 
guishing quality  ;  and  that  is  the  end  of  it,  in  the  sis- 
terhood. 

That  is  the  way  Congregational  churches  begin,  and 
that  is  the  way  they  continue.  It  is  putting  themselves 
down  to  love  and  helpfulness  toward  one  another.  It 
is  a  system  in  which  it  is  left  to  the  voluntary  disposi- 
tion of  each  church  to  discharge  its  duties  to  the  others. 
It  is  a  system  of  spontaneit}' ,  autononi)',  self-devotion, 
unenforced  loyalty. 

You  see,  then,  that  Congregationalism  assumes  as 
conditions  of  its  highest  success  an  attainment  in  vir- 
tue and  intelligence  far  out  toward  the  Celestial  City. 
It  calls  for  Christians  to  reveal  its  highest  worth,  ma- 
ture in  years  and  wisdom,  planning,  of  their  own  ac- 
cord, for  the  general  good,  without  being  lashed  on  by 
any  outside  party.     It  is  not  a   jiolity  that  shows  its 


292  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

best  with  those  who  must  be  handled  because  they  can 
but  poorl}^  handle  themselves,  but  with  those  who  are 
quick  to  see  duties  and  opportunities,  as  well  as  bless- 
ings and  advantages.  It  is  a  polity,  therefore,  that 
sharpens  its  eyes  with  schools,  colleges  and  seminaries, 
and  seeks  to  draw  around  itself  the  best  means  of  grace 
and  wisdom.  It  is  a  system  that  buttresses  itself  with 
the  celestial  things,  that  it  may  show  the  celestial 
things  in  its  own  grain  and  stuff  in  public  relations. 

While,  however,  Congregationalism  is  a  polity  which 
seems  to  throw  itself  with  such  abandon  on  the  spon- 
taneity and  good  will  of  the  churches  for  denomina- 
tional integrity  and  vigor,  it  is  a  sj-stem  of  great  recip- 
rocal expectations .  The  churches  look  to  one  another 
that  each  should  be  found  in  the  serried  ranks.  This 
expectation  carries  with  it  great  moral  power,  because 
it  is  founded  on  conscience,  on  the  equities  of  the  case, 
on  the  public  sense  of  what  fellowship  requires.  Few 
churches  care  to  resist  it ;  they  have  alread}-  set  them- 
selv^es  down  to  it  in  their  first  vows.  There  is  more 
power  in  it,  for  churches  up  to  the  Congregational 
strain,  than  mandates  or  rescripts  for  those  under  ec- 
clesiastical or  hierarchical  drill  ;  for  it  is  a  power 
addressed  to  self-respect  and  love  for  Christ. 

If,  however,  this  proves  unavailing,  the  faithful 
churches  have  no  coercive  power.  They  can  advise, 
and  remonstrate,  and,  these  failing,  weep  and  wring 
their  hands,  and  at  last  bow  out  the  undutiful  sister  by 
withdrawing  fellowship.  But  they  have  no  anathemas 
to  hurl,  no  penances  to  impose,  no  limbo  of  suspension 
into  which  to  consign  her,  no  ecclesiastical  court  in 
which  to  placard  her  delinquencies.  The}-  can  throw 
around  her  only  the  warm  and  tender  persuasions  of 
love  and  goodness — motives  that  sway  the  kingddm  ot" 


SERMONS.  293 

God — and  then  leave  her.  If  they  part  with  her,  they 
part  with  her  high  up  on  the  border  land  of  the  celes- 
tial kingdom,  not  down  in  the  region  of  church  wrang- 
ling and  human  passion. 

This  system  of  expectation  is  not  only  good  for  se- 
curing co-operation  and  unit3^  but  for  moral  and  spirit- 
ual training  as  well.  An  atmosphere  of  social  expec- 
tation of  vice  or  crime  is  powerful  to  drag  down  ;  of 
any  worldly  movement,  to  draw  into  it ;  of  high  pur- 
pose and  noble  endeavor,  to  inspire  in  that  w^ay.  Ex- 
pectation throws  innumerable  warm  arms  about  a 
church  which  softly  draw  it  after  them  ;  for  it  is  ex- 
pectation of  high  things,  of  illustrating  the  law  of  love 
and  being  true  and  helpful  in  all  social  relations  ;  and 
this  expectation,  in  which  a  Congregational  church  is 
focused  in  the  midst  of  sister  churches,  is  one  of  the 
finest  educating  influences.  It  appeals  to  all  that  is 
noble  and  generous  and  Christly.  It  has  on  its  side, 
at  the  start,  the  conscience,  the  reason,  the  faith,  and 
the  foregone  commitment,  in  general,  of  those  who  are 
the  center  of  such  observant  and  tender  interest.  How 
can  a  church  so  surrounded  and  stimulated — affection- 
ate and  sisterh'  eyes  looking  on  and  expecting  noble 
things — fail  to  do  its  best  ?  It  is  put  on  its  honor.  The 
stimulus  comes  through  its  sympathies,  its  friendships, 
its  loves,  from  those  whom  it  esteems  and  cannot 
grieve. 

No  such  educational  power  passes  over  the  line  of 
churches  joined  together  ecclesiastically  as  some  great 
physical  organism,  and  comes  to  the  individual  church. 
What  comes  to  it,  in  such  cases,  is  a  decree,  a  deliver- 
ance, a  rule  ;  and  it  comes  with  authoritj-.  It  is  some- 
thing about  which  it  has  no  option,  and  it  is  unprofit- 
able to  have  an  opinion.     It  must  be  obeyed.     That  is 


294  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

the  beginning  and  end  of  the  matter.  Such  things  are 
likely  to  come  with  a  thud,  not  as  a  hand-shake  ;  and 
there  is  little  value  in  them  as  a  training  agency  in  the 
higher  attainments  of  church  life,  only  in  securing 
instant  unity  of  denominational  movement  and  mass- 
ing material  force.  In  systems  which  depend  so  much 
on  organization,  and  in  which  the  thought  is  so  much 
absorbed  on  that  and  the  parties  working  it,  there  is 
little  room  for  the  play  of  the  quickening  divine  forces 
of  reciprocal  love.  Pulses  of  human  authority  beat 
along  the  articulated  line,  not  the  spiritual  forces  of 
the  Gospel.  And  the  churches  under  the  sway  of  such 
influences  alone  grow  up  into  the  measure  of  the  stat- 
ure of  the  fullness  of  the  denomination,  rather  than  of 
Christ.  Other  influences  may  counteract  this  natural 
drift,  but  this  is  the  tendency  of  the  polity. 

Fellowship,  then,  which  is  the  organizing  principle 
of  the  Congregational  sisterhood,  is  a  high  principle, 
well  out  towards  Christ,  and  making  large  demands 
on  piety  and  wisdom  ;  but  which,  while  gentle  and 
amiable,  is  potent,  greatly  helpful  and  educational,  and 
quickly  lifting  up  those  on  a  lower  plane,  who  adopt 
it  and  have  fair  opportunities,  to  the  Congregational 
strain. 

We  are  now  prepared  to  take  this  principle  and  trace 
some  of  its  workings  in  binding  the  churches  together. 

Before  considering  its  more  positive  and  demonstra- 
tive forms — its  definite  precedents  and  traveled  high- 
ways— let  us  consider  its  brooding  spirit.  We  want  to 
see  what  this  principle  with  which  we  are  dealing  is,  in 
itself,  in  its  ideal  quality.  We  want  to  see  it  lapping 
the  churches  around  with  its  mystic  power,  drawing 
them  together  and  making  them  one,  in  waj'S  too  sub- 
tle to  be  catalogued,   too  effective  to  be  denied.     It  is 


SERMONS.  295. 

like  an  atmosphere  charged  with  an  extra  amount  01 
oxygen  or  electricity,  which  you  do  not  see,  but  whose 
silent  effects  are  felt  by  every  living  thing. 

The  invisible  element,  the  uncatalogued  element,  in 
the  domestic  love  of  a  happy  home,  is  the  atmosphere 
of  it,  the  thousand  nameless  things,  the  gentle  atten- 
tions, the  thoughtful  anticipations,  the  unwearied  de- 
votion, the  radiated  rather  than  expressed  love  ;  and 
this  counts  up  in  the  happiness  of  the  home  far  more 
than  the  catalogued  element,  the  good-night  kisses, 
the  good-morning  salutations,  and  the  regular  discharge 
of  domestic  duty. 

So  when  fellowship  throws  its  mystic  influence  over 
the  churches,  it  tempers  and  adjusts  their  feelings  and 
conduct  towards  one  another,  shaping  all  and  toning 
all  ;  and  this  is  the  elixir  of  their  relationship.  Other 
things  are  the  utilities  ;  this  radiated  love,  this  kindly 
glance,  this  cordial  hand-shake,  this  warm  heart-beat, 
known  to  be  throbbing  in  sympathy,  though  the  mouth 
b;  dumb — this  is  bliss.  It  works  with  the  gentleness 
of  light,  the  certainty  of  gravitation,  the  subtilty  of 
electric  forces  ;  but  it  works  always  helpfully,  stimulat- 
ingly,  to  fulfill  the  law  of  Christ. 

For  the  denomination  that  puts  itself  on  this  prin- 
ciple does  not  suspend  its  existence  on  a  sentiment  or 
an  impulse  having  a  human  origin,  but  on  a  sentiment 
and  an  impulse  originating  in  Christ.  Christ  is  the 
living,  active  source  of  true  fellowship  ;  and  the 
churches,  receiving  it  from  him,  extend  it  to  one  an- 
other. The  earth  and  the  planets  keep  in  their  orbits 
under  the  unseen  attraction  of  the  sun,  each  true  to 
the  system,  under  that  mighty  central  spell.  So  the 
churches  keep  in  their  sisterly  places  and  discharge 
their  duties  under  the  influence  of  this  principle  com- 
ing from  Christ. 


296  ISRAEL   KDSON    DWINELL. 

But  to  depict  or  suggest  all  the  plaj'  of  its  kindly 
operations  and  beneficent  offices  would  be  to  show  all 
the  waj-s  in  which  the  light  of  the  sun  touches  and 
helps  living  things  in  the  animal  world  and  the  land- 
scape about  us. 

If,  however,  I  were  to  take  3^ou  to  a  place  where  5'ou 
could  catch  a  breath  of  the  qualitj^  of  fellowship  in 
Congregational  churches,  in  distinction  from  that  in 
authoritative  systems,  I  would  select  the  regular  meet- 
ings of  their  delegates  in  the  state  and  local  associations 
or  conferences,  or  the  National  Council.  In  any  of 
these  meetings  the  subtle  aroma  of  fellowship  fills  the 
air  like  the  perfume  from  a  bed  of  violets,  or  from  an 
orange  grove  in  blossom.  It  is  this  that  makes  our 
meetings  on  such  occasions  so  delightful.  There  are 
no  rivalries,  no  animosities,  no  prizes  for  personal  am- 
bition, no  struggles  for  leadership,  no  wrangling  about 
legislative  measures,  judicial  decisions,  questions  of 
discipline.  All  these  issues  are  ruled  out ;  and  the  ques- 
tions are  questions  of  excitation,  advice,  fellowship. 
Any  one  who  steps  out  of  our  meetings  into  one  in 
which  the  hot  issues  of  authority  are  waged  sees  at 
once  the  painful  contrast.  He  has  gone  from  the  com- 
munion of  brothers  to  the  contests  and  heat  of  parti- 
sans. If  there  is  ju.st  as  much  fraternal  feeling  in  the 
members  when  the}^  come  together,  their  business  does 
not  permit  a  display  of  it,  does  not  cultivate  it,  is  not 
calculated  to  lift  them  all  up  into  spiritual  unit)'  around 
Christ,  and  to  dismiss  them  in  a  glow  of  love. 

While,  therefore,  fellowship  lies  among  the  churches 
like  sunshine  in  the  lap  of  spring,  reviving  and  quick- 
ening everj'thing,  regulating  all  their  intercourse  with 
the  sweet  grace  of  love  where  it  has  its  proper  sway, 
there  are  certain  formal,  historical  methods  of  its  appli- 


SERMONS.  297 

cation  which  have  become  coinnion  law.  They  have 
reached  this  dignity  from  their  great  utility  and  fre- 
quent use.  Usage,  here  as  elsewhere,  crj-stallizes  into 
a  kind  of  law.  It  is  very  different,  however,  from  Pres- 
byterian, Episcopalian  or  Methodist  denominational 
law.  It  is  flexible,  elastic,  fluid,  advisory,  without 
absolute  grip  or  rigidity.  Yet,  as  I  have  said,  it  is  at- 
tended with  a  mighty  expectation,  which  is  effective. 

It  is  simply  the  Congregational  waj-  of  getting  the 
proper  things  done  voluntaril}-. 

Coming  to  these  crystallized  forms  of  church  fellow- 
ship, we  find  ourselves  on  the  beaten  track  of  Congre- 
gationalism and  amidst  familiar  sights.  We  can  hurry 
our  pace.     We  notice  the  following  : 

I.    COUNCILS. 

These  are  called  substantially  for  two  reasons  :  To 
give  advice  and  help  in  reference  to  organizing  a 
church,  or  settling  or  dismissing  a  pastor,  or  in  refer- 
ence to  the  adjustment  of  some  difficulty.  The  under- 
lying idea  in  these  cases  is,  that  the  question  about 
which  help  is  asked  is  one  which  really  involves  the 
welfare  of  the  denomination.  This  is  obvious  in  rela- 
tion to  organizing  a  church  or  settling  a  pastor  ;  for 
they  are  to  be  constituent  parts  of  Congregationalism 
in  the  region,  and  the  other  churches  have  a  vital  in- 
terest in  the  kind  of  men  and  churches  coming  into 
their  ranks  to  take  part  with  them  in  the  current  Con- 
gregational movement.  Their  good  name  is  at  stake, 
their  comfort,  their  prosperity,  the  good  of  the  cause. 
Especially  is  this  true  in  reference  to  the  settlement  of 
a  minister.  From  the  time  the  church  in  Salem,  in 
1629,  invited  the  church  in  Pl3^mouth  to  be  present  by 
their  representatives  at  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Skelton 
20 


298  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

as  their  pastor  and  Mr.  Higginson  as  their  teacher, 
down  to  the  present,  the  Congregational  churches  by  a 
a  quick  instinct  have  seen  and  felt  the  fitness  of  calling 
a  council  to  advise  them  on  matters  of  such  vital  com- 
mon concern. 

But  while  a  council  to  settle  a  minister  springs  upas 
a  due  of  fellowship,  it  is  also,  in  the  case  of  all  worthy 
candidates,  a  privilege.  It  enables  the  new  pastor  to 
take  his  place  in  the  untried  field ,  at  once,  with  the 
grand  moral  backing  of  experts.  Well-furnished,  sym- 
metrical men,  true  men,  do  not  shrink  from  such  an 
introduction.  Moreover,  it  is  this  practice,  where  reg- 
ularly continued,  that  has  done  more  than  any  other 
device  of  Congregationalism  to  make  our  ministers  at 
once  sound  in  the  faith  and  evangelical  in  spirit,  com- 
paring favorably  in  these  respects  with  those  of  any 
other  denomination.  It  is  a  suspicious  circumstance 
when  a  pastor  elect  declines  to  have  the  case  submitted 
to  a  council. 

In  the  case  of  difficulty,  of  such  magnitude  that  the 
church  cannot,  or  will  not  settle  it,  a  council  may  be 
called — the  two  parties  uniting  in  the  call,  a  Mutual 
Council ;  one  only  issuing  the  call,  and  the  other  refus- 
ing, an  Ex  parte  Council. 

Congregationalism  is  jealous  of  the  rights  of  minori- 
ties and  individuals  ;  and  the  Ex  parte  Council  is  the 
means  it  has  adopted  for  guarding  their  rights.  Here 
the  appeal  is  made  from  an  alleged  neglectful  or  tyran- 
nizing majority  to  the  sense  of  justice  and  fairness  of 
the  disinterested  churches.  In  this  wa}^  no  church, 
however  strong  or  influential,  can  tyrannize  over  a 
single  weak  brother,  without  the  liability  of  having  its 
sins  thrown  in  its  face  from  the  reflecting  conscience 
and  judgment  of  sister  churches.     The  practice  of  hav- 


SERMONS.  299 

ing  councils  makes  our  churches  contrast  favorably 
with  the  Baptist  churches,  which  rarely  have  them. 
Practically  the  council  represses  extreme  individualism. 
Our  Baptist  friends  have  no  fixed  denominational  ar- 
rangements for  holding  this  in  check — nothing  but  the 
diffused,  unapplied  Christian  sentiment  —  nothing 
which  they  can  bring  to  bear  to  heal  quarrels  and  pre- 
vent the  unnecessary  multiplication  of  churches.  The 
very  certainty  that  such  issues  may  be  passed  on  by 
cool,  disinterested  advisers  arrests  local  heat  and  pas- 
sion. 

Moreover,  the  principle  of  fellowship,  hovering  un- 
consciously in  our  atmosphere  and  exerting  its  ubiqui- 
tous influence,  is  ever  on  guard  to  prevent  the  undue 
rise  of  impracticable  self-will,  in  a  way  that  our  neigh- 
bors of  the  same  polity'  know  nothing  of. 

II.       REPRESENTATIVE    MEMBERS. 

These  are  local  Associations  or  Conferences,  General 
Associations  or  Conferences,  and  the  National  Council. 
The  fundamental  idea  of  these  bodies  is  church  fellow- 
ship, not  the  fellowship  merely  of  the  delegates  ;  the  ob- 
ject is  to  promote  the  fellowship  of  the  churches.  They 
are  the  outcome  of  this  fellowship.  Their  business  is 
the  expression  of  this  fellowship.  Their  purpose  is  to 
promote  it.  Nothing  further  than  this  was  possible  ac- 
cording to  the  original  historical  conception.  Of  late, 
however,  the  churches  of  Michigan  have  made  a  radical 
departure.  The  General  Association  of  that  State  is 
legally  incorporated  and  has  certain  authoritative  func- 
tions. It  has  a  Board  of  Trustees,  composed  of  one 
from  each  local  association  and  six  at  large.  These 
trustees  act  for  the  churches  in  aiding  Sabbath  Schools 
and  churches,  building  houses  of  worship,  relieving 


300  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWIXELL. 

needy  ministers,  collecting  results  of  councils,  and 
other  things  favoring  the  common  interests  of  the 
churches.  The  principle  is  the  principle  of  the  cen- 
tralized denominations,  let  in  at  the  thin  end,  and 
abandons  the  heritage  of  the  freedom  and  autouomj' 
of  the  individual  church,  for  which  our  fathers  strug- 
gled for  two  centuries  and  a  half. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  watch  this  experiment,  but 
painful  to  imitate  it ;  for  our  polity  goes  on  the  theor)^ 
that  no  authoritative  power  over  the  churches  can  be 
exercised  by  the  representative  bodies.  Yet  in  their 
normal  action  these  meetings  are  a  might}'  power  in 
unif5nng,  cementing  and  advancing  the  denomination, 
doing  their  work  by  reports,  discussions,  resolutions  ; 
by  incitement,  b)-  arousement,  b}'  kindling  fires  on 
central  altars  till  the  flames  spread  and  wrap  all  the 
churches  in  a  common  glow. 

So  great,  however,  is  this  moral  power  that  individ- 
uals who  have  never  breathed  the  air  of  Michigan — 
there  have  always  been  such  men,  and  I  presume 
always  will  be — want  to  go  a  step  further,  and  have 
them  do  something  positive  and  final  for  the  denomi- 
nation. ' '  It  would  be  so  eas}-  here  to  do  something 
that  needs  to  be  done  for  the  churches.  We  have 
these  representatives  ;  they  are  constructivelj' all  here. 
Why  not,  here  and  now,  do  this  bit  of  work  for  them 
— make  a  creed,  settle  their  relation  to  the  missionary 
boards,  do  a  nice  job  of  legislation,  and  save  the  end- 
less bother  of  waiting  on  the  churches  ? ' ' 

This  is  incipient  Presbyterianism.  Congregational- 
ists  need  to  be  jealous  of  their  birthright, — the  auton- 
omy of  the  individual  church,  the  fellowship  of  the 
churches,  the  bond  of  their  imion.  When  a  national 
council  or  state  body  presumes  to  act  decisively  and 


SERMONS.  301 

finally  for  the  churches,  it  is  as  much  a  stretch  of 
Congregational  principle  as  it  is  for  the  pastor  to  act 
in  such  a  way  for  the  single  church.  Nothing  can  be 
properly  done  by  a  representative  bod}',  or  a  pastor, 
but  what  has  been  specificalh'  delegated  in  form  or  by 
implication.  The  onl}'  seat  of  authorit}^  even  in  the 
modified  Congregational  sense,  is  in  the  churches  in 
their  separate  capacity. 

III.       ASSISTING   CHURCHES. 

This  may  be  b}^  gifts  of  members  or  money.  This 
is  a  generous  and  considerate  wa}^  of  helping  sister 
churches  if  they  need  it,  and  the  Golden  Rule  suggests 
it.  To  act  on  a  policj'-  of  withholding  such  aid,  under 
the  circumstances,  is  a  breach  of  church  fellowship. 
And  observe,  the  aid  in  such  cases  is  given  in  an  out- 
handed  way — outright — in  no  manner  holding  on  to 
the  gift  and  sharing  in  the  continued  management  of 
it.  This  is  our  Congregational  waj' — giving  our  best 
gifts,  our  valued  members  living  near  and  naturally 
belonging  to  the  other  church,  and  our  money,  and 
forever  vacating  an}^  claim  to  assist  in  administering 
the  gift  subsequently,  committing  that  totally  and 
absolutely  to  the  aided  church,  within  the  limits  of  the 
object. 

Thus  our  churches  exhibit  a  true  fellowship,  and  j'et 
respect  the  perfect  self-hood  and  autonomy  of  one 
another,  girding  the  aided  church  wnth  strength  and 
love  at  the  same  time. 

IV.       AIDING     CONGREGATIONAL      INSTITUTIONS     AND 

ENTERPRISES. 

We  have  many  academies,  colleges,  seminaries,  be- 
nevolent societies,  founded  and  maintained  solel}'  for 


302  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

the  service  of  Christ.  They  are  Congregational  in 
general  character  and  movement.  They  are  manned 
b}'  our  men.  They  are  conducted  b}-  our  methods. 
They  breathe  our  spirit.  They  are  the  output  of  our 
life.  They  mainly  depend  on  us  for  support  and 
efficiency. 

Now,  when  our  churches  give  to  them  men  or  mone^^ 
they  join  hands  with  one  another.  When  your  church 
takes  up  a  collection  for  our  seminar}^  or  sends  one  of 
its  sons  to  it,  it  enters  into  the  m3^stic  fraternity  back 
of  it,  putting  life  into  it.  It  joins  the  circle  that 
touches  hands  in  sustaining  it.  It  stands  side  by  side 
with  the  other  churches  doing  the  same  thing — one  of 
a  goodly  fellowship.  And  so  of  all  our  institutions  and 
enterprises.  It  makes  no  difference  about  its  being 
true  and  genuine  church  fellowship,  that  here,  too,  as 
in  aiding  a  church,  the  gift  carries  with  it  no  claim  of 
right  to  control  ;  that  it  is  made  out  of  hand  ;  and  that 
that  is  the  end  of  the  responsibility  of  the  giver,  and 
the  beginning  of  the  responsibility  of  the  receiver. 
This,  here,  also,  is  our  way.  The  fellowship  does  not 
lessen  between  our  churches  that  stand  together  in 
warm  clasp  of  hand  under  our  institutions  and  enter- 
prises, because  they  do  not  loosen  their  hands  and 
reach  up  and  take  hold  of  the  management.  Manage- 
ment is  not  neceesary  to  fellowship, — to  the  common 
heart-beats  of  love  and  sympathy.  When  children 
and  grandchildren  come  pouring  into  grandfather's  on 
Thanksgiving  day,  it  does  not  lessen  the  blessed  com- 
munion that  the}'  do  not  share  in  the  responsibility  of 
planning  for  the  occasion  and  getting  things  ready. 
Here,  then,  in  the  blessedness  of  giving  to  our  objects, 
is  a  method  of  most  real  and  effective  church  fellow- 
ship.    To  realize  it  and  have  the  full  benefit  of  it,  the 


SERMONS.  303 

giving  should  be  b}-  churches — with  church  prayers, 
sympathies  and  presentations — with  the  church  heart 
all  aglow  in  the  direction  of  the  object.  In  this  way 
our  churches  would  be  brought  very  close  together  in 
spiritual  and  substantial  union. 

Such  are  the  principles  and  some  of  the  methods  of 
church  fellowship  among  us.  If  this  spirit  were  per- 
fectly carried  out,  the  relations  of  the  Congregational 
churches  to  one  another  would  be,  indeed,  heavenlj'. 

Why  is  it  not  ?  The  general  answer,  of  course,  must 
be  the  want  of  a  heavenly  spirit  in  the  churches.  The 
level  of  fellowship  can  rise  no  higher  among  them  than 
the  level  of  piety.  But  I  wish  to  mention  a  few  special 
reasons,  that  might  be  avoided,  which  keep  this  level 
lower  than  it  ought  to  be. 

(a.)  The  first  is  the  undue  prominence  attached  to 
itself,  in  some  cases,  by  the  local  clmrcJi.  It  is  a  want 
of  community  feeling,  and  maj'  originate  with  the 
pastor  or  the  church.  It  is  in  the  church  self-absorp- 
tion, self-enlargement,  indifference  to  outside  interests. 
This  spirit  ma}-  be  manifested  in  a  large  church  with 
metropolitan  ambitions,  in  a  city  ;  or  in  a  small  church 
in  the  country  struggling  for  life.  Wherever  it  exists 
it  is  the  same  quality.  It  is  indifference  to  others — all 
eyes  looking  to  the  home  work,  all  hands  drawing  it  to 
the  central  altar.  W^hile  the  quality  is  the  same  in  the 
large  church  as  in  the  small  one,  the  evil  is  slight  and 
inconspicuous  in  the  small  one,  for  its  opportunities 
of  fraternity  are  few.  But  in  the  large  one  the  oppor- 
tunities are  many,  and  the  influence  of  the  absorbing 
passion  for  self-aggrandizement  conspicuous  and  dam- 
aging. Here  the  one  aim  is  to  make  itself  colossal  and 
strong,  regarding  this  as  the  best  way  in  which  it  can 
fulfill  its  mission.     There  is  no  attempt  to  carry  up 


304  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

Christ's  kingdom  jointl}-,  by  harmonious  co-operation 
with  others,  and  consulting  the  general  good.  It 
would  build  a  monumental  church  ;  but  it  chooses  for 
its  kind  of  monument  a  needle,  an  Eiffel,  resting  on  its 
own  lot ;  not  a  pyramid,  a  Cheops,  resting  on  the  broad, 
acres  of  the  denomination.  This  spirit  counteracts  the 
Congregational  principle,  and  arrests  its  progress  and 
lovely  fruits,  even  though  it  may  now  and  then  make 
a  generous  largess  in  money,  which  does  not  fulfill  the 
grace  urged  by  the  apostle  :  ' '  The  felloivship  of  the 
ministering  to  the  saints.  " 

(b. )  Inertia  is  another  obstacle.  There  are  churches 
and  pastors,  not  a  few,  that  are  not  devoid  of  generous 
sentiments  towards  the  interests  of  our  order,  but  they 
are  latent.  When  it  comes  to  opportunities  to  put 
them  in  practice,  they  are  sentiments  still,  not  deeds. 
These  churches  are  not  represented  at  meetings  of  As- 
sociation and  Conference.  They  do  not  appear  at 
councils  when  invited.  Everything  must  be  favorable 
and  easy  to  enable  their  good  feeling  to  find  expression. 
They  atten  \  to  their  own  affairs  and  let  the  interests  of 
the  denomination  take  care  of  themselves.  Fellowship 
is  not  outraged  as  in  the  previous  case  ;  it  is  neglected 
for  want  of  purpose,  energy,  self-sacrifice  ;  for  want  of 
seeing  the  real  divineness  of  its  claims.  God  does  not 
call  his  churches  to  cloister  themselves,  but  to  join  the 
host  that  is  going  up  to  take  the  land. 

(c.)  Isolation,  also,  often  interferes  with  expressions 
of  this  grace.  It  may  not  paralyze  it,  but  it  impedes 
its  flow.  A  church  out  in  the  mountains,  fifty  miles 
from  any  sister  church,  too  far  away  to  have  inter- 
course with  others  in  a  formal  manner,  may  yet,  by 
looking  abroad,  by  reading  the  papers  and  by  corres- 
pondence, keep  itself  informed  on  all  that  is  going  on, 


SERMONS.  305 

and  in  lively  sympathy  with  it.  A  man  hidden  in  a 
dark  cave  where  he  himself  is  invisible,  looking  out, 
can  see  distinctly  those  in  the  light  in  front  of  the  cave 
at  a  great  distance.  Persons  on  the  frontier,  looking 
to  the  centers  of  civilization,  see  much  farther  and 
more  distinctly  than  those  at  the  centers  of  civilization 
looking  towards  the  frontier.  And  our  lonely  church 
in  the  mountains,  fifty  miles  away,  may  keep  its  eye 
on  our  city  churches,  and  know  just  how  they  are  far- 
ing. On  the  other  hand,  a  city  church,  by  directing 
its  special  attention  to  the  church  in  the  mountains, 
keeping  itself  informed  about  it,  touching  it  occasion- 
ally with  the  kindl}'  touch  of  a  helpful  remembrance, 
may  keep  up  on  the  other  side  a  true  church  fellow- 
ship, under  difficulties.  Still,  isolation  impedes  its  flow. 
Particularly  with  our  sparse  population  and  great  areas 
here  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  is  this  true.  In  some  places 
the  churches  are  not  organized  into  active  conferences 
or  associations,  or  if  organized  the  meetings  are  rarely 
attended  by  lay  delegates  ;  and  the  expense  of  attending 
the  General  Association  is  so  great  that  quite  a  num- 
ber of  churches  every  year  are  unrepresented  by  either 
pastor  or  laj^men. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  there  is  far  more  of  the  spirit 
of  fellowship  than  our  churches  have  an  opportunity  of 
expressing.  If  so,  the  question  may  well  be  raised, 
whether  one  good  way  of  showing  it  would  be  for  the 
stronger  churches  to  prepare  a  fund  to  enable  the 
representatives  of  all  to  be  present  at  the  fellowship 
meetings.  This  would  express  our  Congregational 
principle,  and  would  create  it.  It  would  add  a  crown- 
ing bliss  and  fervor  to  our  meetings,  which  would 
greatly  increase  their  value.  It  would  bind  our  churches 
together  by  bonds,  material  and  strong,  yet  altogether 


306  ISRAEL   EDSON    D\^  INELL. 

free,  voluntary  and  unecclesiastical.  It  would  help 
them  to  rise  in  their  simple  Congregational  way  to 
greater  unity,  enthusiasm  and  power,  to  bring  this  land 
to  Christ. 

Such  is  the  unity  fo:  ce  of  our  churches.  In  its  ideal 
it  differs  widely  from  the  aggregating  force  of  the  Bap- 
tists, which  is  a  denominational  instinct  emphasizing  a 
rite,  and  the  feeling  of  religious  kindred.  Congrega- 
tionalism is  not  an  aggregation — a  mass  thrown  togeth- 
er, like  a  crowd  on  the  4th  of  July  or  some  other  public 
occasion,  each  in  no  close  relation  to  the  others  except 
being  near  and  sharing  the  common  sentiment.  It  dif- 
fers widel}^  also  from  that  of  the  centralized,  authorita- 
tive churches.  It  is  no  mechanical  human  combina- 
tion, like  a  cistern  or  a  piece  of  cabinet  work,  held 
together  by  glue  and  screw^s  or  iron  hoops.  It  is 
rather  a  cr3'stal.  Scientists  tell  us  that  a  crystal  has 
a  kind  of  life,  the  atoms  of  each  molecule  having  their 
own  distinct  organization  and  function  in  that  molecule, 
and  all  the  molecules  being  united  in  the  greater  living 
whole,  the  crj-stal,  with  its  symmetrical  angles,  facets, 
and  unique  form.  In  Congregationalism  there  is,  in  a 
similar  manner,  the  same  high  gospel  principle  uniting 
the  churches  as  in  producing  the  individual  church — 
in  the  crystal  as  in  the  molecule.  To  realize  the  unique- 
ness and  value  of  this,  remember  that  Christianity  in 
the  world  aims  ever  to  be  at  once  an  individual  and  a 
social  power.  It  begins  by  planting  itself  in  persons, 
and  then  it  goes  on  to  unite  these  in  communities. 
Now,  in  Congregationalism  Christianit}^  does  both  of 
these  things.  Fellow^ship  is  the  principle  it  works 
with.  This  is  the  crj-stallizing  principle  in  the  unit 
and  in  the  body.  Hence  Congregationalism  differs 
wndelj'  from  Independence^,   which  ignores  the  social 


SERMONS.  307 

uniting  power  of  the  gospel  ;  for  it  includes  the  com- 
plete integral  idea  of  Christianity  on  earth, — individual- 
ism and  socialit)', — and  secures  them  both  by  moral  and 
spiritual  means.  And  it  is  altogether  unlike  consolida- 
tion or  solidarity,  which  slights  individualism  ;  for  it 
embraces  both,  but  without  license  on  the  one  hand  or 
authority  on  the  other.  Its  position  is  absolutely 
unique  among  the  denominations,  midway  in  the  swing 
of  the  ecclesiastical  pendulum,  directly  beneath  the 
point  of  its  suspension  in  the  hand  of  God. 

Well,  therefore,  ma}-  we  go  forward  w4th  confident 
and  joyous  tread,  feeling  that  our  system  in  its  idea 
largeh'  reflects  and  anticipates  the  order  of  heaven,  and 
struggle  to  make  the  realit}-  more  adequately  realize 
the  idea. 


THE  SERMON  ON  THE  MOUNT. 
[From  a  Lecture  to  his  Class.] 

A  ver}'  remarkable  quality  in  the  sermon  is  its  adap- 
tation to  the  timeless  wants  of  the  soul,  in  furnishing  an 
ideal  to  struggle  towards  that  can  never  be  overtaken. 
He  holds  up  for  us  an  aim  which  comes  out  in  man}- 
places  in  the  sermon ,  and  especially  in  this  :  —  "  Be  ye 
perfect,  as  your  Father  in  Heaven  is  perfect."  This, 
although  an  under-current  all  through  the  discourse, 
is  an  ever  transcendent  aim.  Go  as  far  as  thought  can 
carry  us,  it  is  still  beyond. 

This  quality  of  the  sermon  shows  at  once  ils  tran- 
scendent origin  and  its  perfect  adaptation  to  human 
needs.  The  soul  demands  just  such  an  ideal.  No  great- 
er innocent  source  of  discomfort  could  come  to  us  than 
to  wake  up  in  some  aeon  of  the  future,  and  find  out  that 
we  had  gained  all  there  was  for  us;  that  we  had  reached 
the  end  ;  that  no  more  progress  was  possible  ;  that 
every'  grace  and  virtue  and  attainment  was  mastered. 
No  ejinui  like  that  can  be  imagined — a  soul  doomed 
to  eternity,  to  have  nothing  to  look  forward  to  but 
what  it  alread}^  has.  Christ  has  provided  better  things 
for  us,  and  it  is  hinted  at  in  the  fundamental  sermon 
of  his  kingdom,  where  he  has  outlined  them  for  us. 

Over  against  the  timeless  character  of  the  contents 
of  the  sermon  is  the  remarkable  appropriation  of  the 
language,  and  culture,  and  habits  of  thought  of  the 
common  people.     He  does  not  speak  from  the  stand- 


3XO  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

point  of  the  Pharisee,  the  Essene,  or  any  school  of  phil- 
osoph}'  or  religion,  but  of  the  common  Jew,  living  in 
the  country,  and  familiar  with  the  facts  of  everyday  life 
going  on  around  him.  He  draws  his  illustrations  from 
the  fields  and  flowers  and  animals,  and  from  incidents 
familiar  to  those  heaiing  him.  His  words  and  idioms, 
in  like  manner,  are  those  of  the  common  people.  So 
here  is  the  most  wide  and  far-reaching  message — the 
ideal  standard  for  all  coming  time,  put  in  the  homely 
costume  of  every-day  life;  a  costume  that  is  imperisha- 
ble, for  the  facts  of  nature  and  the  incidents  of  daily 
life  are  the  most  unchangeable  and  cosmopolitan  of 
any.  Consequently,  both  the  substance  and  the  form 
of  the  sermon  admirably  adapt  it  for  setting  forth,  not 
only  to  his  immediate  hearers  but  also  to  mankind  at 
large  down  the  ages,  the  fundamental  character  of  the 
kingdom  of  God  which  he  was  proclaiming. 

The  sermon  also  shows  a  certain  unconscious  lordli- 
ness that  at  once  sets  its  Author,  without  his  seeming 
to  notice  it,  above  all  other  teachers.  There  is  no 
straining  to  maintain  dignity,  no  appearance  of  the  as- 
sumption of  it.  It  rays  out  from  Him  as  royally  as  the 
light  and  supremacy  of  the  sun.  "  It  has  been  said  by 
them  of  old  time  *  *  *  but  /  say  unto  you.  He 
speaks  down  to  men  unconsciously  from  an  infinite 
height.  The  royalty  of  his  words  cannot  be  hidden. 
They  betray  the  grandeur  of  his  being.  The  sermon 
is  human,  but  it  is  more. 


THE  MINISTRY. 

Few  boys  will  rise  above  the  poise  the  mother  gives 
them.  If  the  mothers  are  content  to  have  their  sons 
worldly,  selfish,  self-indulgent,  there  are  influences 
enough  abroad  to  bring  about  this  result.  But  if  they 
desire  them  to  do  good  in  this  world,  and  whatever 
position  they  occupy  or  sticcess  they  gain  have  it  all 
on  the  side  of  Christ,  they  must  bathe  their  j^oung 
hearts  with  the  ceaseless  ministries  of  prayer  and 
Christian  love  and  example. 

The  ministry,  for  those  who  are  moved  and  adapted 
to  do  high  work,  is  the  profession  that  lies  nearest 
heaven,  and  calls  for  consecrated  recruits  with  divinest 
voice. 

There  is  a  shortening  of  time  in  preparation  for  the 
ministry  that  is  wasteful  in  regard  to  preaching.  Here, 
as  in  relation  to  giving,  'There  is  that  scattereth,  and 
yet  increaseth  ;  and  there  is  that  withholdeth  more 
than  is  meet,  but  it  tendeth  to  poverty. 

Every  pastor  is,  by  office,  providentially  on  an  out- 
look committee,  to  find  young  men  for  a  profession  to 
which  they  do  not  turn  till  the  thought  is  borne  in  up- 
on them,  and  to  which  the  natural  ambitions  and  at- 
tractions of  life  do  not  point.  He  can  drop  the  enkind- 
ling suggestion  in  their  hearts,  and  then,  in  due  time, 
take  the  young  men  by  the  hand  and  lead  them  along. 


312  ISRAEL   EDSON    DWINELL. 

A  preacher  really  has  no  business  to  preach,  unless 
his  message  comes  to  him  fresh  from  God.  We  must 
remember  that  all  truth,  principle,  moral  and  spiritual 
reality  is  a  living  entity,  and  can  no  more  be  old  than 
sunlight  or  God.  The  expressions  of  it,  the  historical 
forms  it  has  taken  on,  may  be  old,  but  the  thing  itself 
is  ever  fresh. 

The  modern  preacher  needs,  as  much  as  the  primi- 
tive one,  the  sense  that  he  is  proclaiming  the  fresh 
thought  and  will  of  God.  He  must  come  down  from 
the  mount  as  Moses  did,  with  his  face  shining  from 
immediate  communing  with  God.  Tradition,  the 
church,  the  schools,  the  Bible  itself,  can  give  only  the 
old  envelopes  ;  back  of  them  and  through  them  the 
preacher  must  penetrate  to  the  living,  spiritual  con- 
tents, and  when  he  has  them  he  will  have  a  message 
fresh  from  the  eternal  world,  as  apt  and  precious  to 
men  now  as  in  the  days  of  the  Prophets  or  the  Apos- 
tles, and  in  preaching  which  he  may  have  as  much 
heavenly  enthusiasm  as  the}'  had. 

God  cherishes  the  individuality  of  his  servants  as  one 
of  his  finest  and  most  delicate  works,  and  is  careful  to 
lay  no  burdens  on  them  to  crush  this  down  to  one  mon- 
strous level.  He  is  anxious  that  this  should  appear  in 
their  preaching  as  well  as  in  the  play  of  their  features 
or  the  tones  of  their  voice.  He  would  have  them  true 
to  themselves  as  well  as  to  Him. 


THE  SABBATH. 

As  light  streams  out  through  the  sides  of  a  glass  lan- 
tern in  all  directions  on  a  dark  night,  so  from  a  spirit- 
ually illuminated  rest-da}^  God  sends  out  moral  light 
in  all  directions  through  the  community. 

When  you  see  the  flag  of  a  well-kept  Sabbath  flying 
over  a  land,  you  know  that  it  is  a  land  which  God  is 
blessing  in  the  whole  strain  of  its  civilization.  It  is  a 
divinely  brooded  and  guided  land. 

The  people,  in  consequence  of  God's  blessing  on 
their  quickened  moral  life,  are  prosperous,  strong  and 
effective.  They  are  eminent  in  their  manhood,  their 
achievements,  their  success,  in  the  gains  of  this  world 
and  the  world  to  come,  in  the  catalogue  of  saints, 
heroes,  benefactors.  God  touches  and  tones  their 
energy  with  power  and  wisdom,  and  carries  it  forward 
to  hio:h  results. 


'O' 


Our  civil  system  sprang  up  around  the  Sabbath  as  a 
sacred  day.  Historically  this  was  its  origin.  The  first 
settlers  of  New  England  brought  it  with  them  from  the 
Puritans  of  the  mother  country.  The  whole  civil  life 
of  the  colonists  revolved  around  the  Sabbath  as  a  sacred 
day.  Some  of  their  regulations  were  severe,  some  of 
their  notions  were  extreme,  some  of  their  practices 
ridiculous  ;  but  all  this  only  shows  the  prominence 
which  the  sacredness  of  the  day  held  in  their  whole 

21 


314  ISRAEL   EDSON   DWINELL. 

civil  economy.  So  all  the  criticisms  of  Cavaliers,  the 
ridicule  of  the  Broad  Churchmen,  the  denunciation  of 
the  Free  Thinkers,  which  we  have  heard  and  read  on 
this  subject,  are  in  evidence  now  of  the  thorough  com- 
mitment of  New  England  to  this  idea.  Other  colonies 
adopted  the  same  spirit  in  greater  or  less  degree,  and 
made  their  civil  life  fashion  itself  around  a  sacred  da}-. 
Out  of  such  a  condition  of  society,  with  one  daj^  in 
seven  distinctively  set  apart  for  the  higher  uses  of  heart 
and  mind,  and  the  service  of  God,  and  rest  from  secular 
work — with  the  Sabbath  as  the  beating  heart  of  the 
whole  civil  system,  sending  its  vital  currents  through 
all  the  days  of  the  week,  all  the  tissues  of  societ}' — 
came  our  civil  system.  It  was  born  of  a  Sabbatic 
mother,  wrapped  in  Sabbatic  swaddling  clothes,  and 
rocked  in  a  Sabbatic  cradle. 


MISCKIvIvANEOUS. 

Christianity  dying  out  in  New  England?  Xot  a  bit 
of  it !  It  is  pluming  its  wings.  It  is  preparing  for 
larger  flights  toward  the  sun  —  toward  the  rising  sun, 
and  the  setting  sun — and  to  carry  with  it,  in  its  offer- 
ing to  Christ,  the  brawn  and  the  brain,  the  culture  and 
the  weakness,  the  civilization  and  the  degradation  of 
the  land  of  the  Puritans.  Have  no  fears  of  New  Eng- 
land, as  long  as  she  remains  what  she  is.  Would  that 
she  were  a  thousand  times  larger  and  more  powerful, 
and  that  she  overlapped  the  Continent  ! 

What  a  call  is  here  for  a  high  standard  of  Christian 
living,  for  unflinching  devotion  to  principle,  for  self- 
sacrifice  in  doing  good  !  All  along  this  coast,  from 
San  Diego  to  the  northern  part  of  Puget  Sound,  the 
country  is  full  of  young  life  and  quickened  activity. 
It  is  an  age  of  blazing  the  trees  and  cutting  the  trails 
for  coming  generations  ;  and  it  is  an  age  when  Christ 
summons  his  people  to  lead  the  way.  All  over  the 
land  the  stirring  call  comes  :  —  Arise,  shine  I  for  thy 
light  has  come  ! 

The  missionary  work  is  based  on  the  great  unities 
of  Christianit}-.  They  are  such  as  these  :  That  the 
race  is  one  ;  that  depravity  is  one  ;  that  redemption  is 
one  ;  that  regeneration  is  one  ;  that  the  Christian  life 
is  one.  We  do  not  reach  the  true  spirit  of  our  local 
work  till  we  come  down  to  it  from  the  heights  of  these 


3l6  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

grand  missionary  unities.  The  kingdom  of  God,  which 
knows  no  land,  no  race,  no  condition,  as  excluded  from 
its  provisions,  must  come  into  a  man,  to  enable  him  to 
give  a  cup  of  cold  water,  or  do  any  service  even,  unto 
the  kingdom.  The  Light  that  lighteth  every  man 
that  Cometh  into  the  world  must  be  welcomed  and 
reflected,  to  enable  a  man  to  walk  a  step  in  an  old 
Christian  community,  according  to  the  light. 

We  should  have  faith  that  business  methods  may  be 
converted  to  Christ,  like  everything  else  ;  and  that, 
when  this  change  has  taken  place  in  the  relation  of 
employers  and  the  emploj^ed,  strikes  wall  be  impossi- 
ble, and  good  will  and  harmonj^  will  prevail. 

The  influence  of  woman's  work  for  woman,  I  have 
no  doubt,  is  largely  the  cause  of  that  gradual  elevation 
of  the  plane  of  missionary  activity  and  life  which  is 
now  going  on  throughout  all  our  churches.  God  bless 
woman's  work  for  woman  ! 

The  present  form  of  materialism  is  becoming  old, 
and  losing  the  glamour  of  its  novelty.  *  *  *  The 
popular  thought  will  once  more  rejoice  in  God,  and 
men  will  have  faith  to  see  God  back  of  the  sequences 
of  cause  and  effect,  back  of  nature,  back  of  history, — 
back  of  these  and  in  them. 

In  the  spring-time  there  are  concealed  forces  of  na- 
ture working  invisibly  in  plant,  shrub,  tree,  the  roots 
of  grasses  and  buried  seeds,  plying  their  nimble  and 
ceaseless  energies  to  produce  leaves  and  buds  and 
flowers  and  fruit — all  the  greenness  and  bloom  and  joy 
of  the  vegetable  world.     In  like  manner  the  concealed 


MISCELLANEOUS.  317 

forces  of  religion  are,  under  the  varied  forms,  parts  and 
energies  of  our  social  life,  working  noiselessly,  and 
working  far  and  near,  to  produce  the  beauty  and  fra- 
grance and  ripeness  of  the  social  condition. 

Moreover,  where  religion  does  not  succeed  as  a  prin- 
ciple of  life  in  producing  beautiful  and  fragrant  things, 
it  acts  as  a  vis  medicatrix,  cicatrizing  the  wounds  of 
our  civilization,  overcoming  the  fevers,  tugging  at  the 
poisons  and  slowly  expelling  them,  uniting  the  broken 
bones,  building  sanitar}-  walls  about  the  chronic  sores, 
or  giving  twinges  of  neuralgic  smart,  to  call  attention 
to  the  lurking  badness.  The  distempers  and  vices  it 
does  not  prevent  or  arrest  it  puts  a  fringe  of  healthful 
influence  about,  a  barrier  of  antagonistic  life — or  fights 
fire  with  fire,  preventing  a  general  destruction.  So 
the  scourges  of  intemperance,  licentiousness,  crime, 
and  other  social  distempers,  and  even  war — and  civil 
war — are  abridged  or  quarantined  or  mollified,  and  kept 
within  some  bounds. 

But,  apart  from  the  natural  influence  of  the  very 
spirit  and  genius  of  Christianitj-,  leading  it  to  seize 
and  mould  and  use  the  elements  and  materials  of  civil- 
ization, it  has  positive,  mighty  engines  of  civil  power, 
out  in  the  light  of  the  sum  in  our  land,  working  directl}^ 
upon  civilization,  with  noise  and  clatter  and  busy  in- 
vestment of  the  seats  of  influence  and  the  hidings  of 
social  life.     These  are  its  organs  and  instruments. 

The  eider-duck  plucks  from  her  breast  the  fine,  soft, 
incomparable  down,  to  line  the  nest  for  her  young  ;  but 
the  hunters  rob  the  nest  to  enrich  themselves,  when 
she  plucks  her  breast  again  ;  and,  when  they  do  it  a 
third  time,  the  male  bird  repeats  the  operation.  So 
religion  continues  to  yield  the  finest  and  choicest  civil 


3lS  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

and  social  blessings  to  those  who  anno}^  and  wrong 
her.  Nay,  more,  she  gives  them  many  of  the  imple- 
ments and  powers  with  which  they  assail  her,  helping 
them  to  their  culture,  standards  of  criticism,  moral 
artillery,  the  whole  enginery  of  truth — so  far  as  they 
have  truth — with  which,  not  satisfied  with  chafing  her 
defects,  they  fall  upon  her.  She  furnishes  them  in 
unconscious  exuberance  with  the  power  and  means  of 
attack,  when  they  try  to  worry  the  life  out  of  her. 

According  to  ancient  Greek  story,  the  infant  Her- 
cules was  carried  by  Mercury  to  Olympus,  and  put  to 
the  breast  of  Juno  without  her  knownng  who  the  child 
was.  He  was  so  nourished  bj^  the  divine  food  that  he 
drew  godlike  strength  from  it,  which  he  subsequently 
used  to  thwart  the  wishes  of  the  goddess  who  had 
nursed  him  while  she  was  asleep.  And  there  is  an- 
other who  has  said,  "  I  have  nourished  and  brought  up 
children,  and  they  have  rebelled  against  me."  This 
appropriation  of  divine  gifts — the  beauties  and  excel- 
lencies of  ripened  intellect  and  cultured  humanity, 
drawn  from  the  bosom  of  religion,  and  which  she, 
sleeping  and  waking,  freely  offers  to  all,  only  to  use 
quickened  powers  and  God-like  vigor  thus  derived  in 
attacks  on  the  generous,  unthinking  foster-mother — 
is  one  of  the  strange  facts  of  our  strange  world,  and 
puts  those  guilty  of  it  in  an  unenviable  attitude  before 
the  discernment  and  conscience  of  mankind.  It  is  the 
act  and  purpose  of  a  parricide  without  the  effect ;  for 
Christianity  is  immortal  and  unconquerable,  and  goes 
on  scattering  her  blessings,  in  sublime  pity  and  sor- 
row for  the  ingratitude  and  w^eakness,  among  all  who 
will  receive  them. 


MISCELLANEOUS .  319 

The  soul  never  feels  old,  but  always  young,  as  if 
pluming  itself  for  an  indefinite  flight.  It  feels  at  three 
score  and  ten  as  if  it  had  just  opened  its  eyes  in  its 
Father's  house,  visited  a  few  of  its  wondrous  chambers, 
and  seen  some  of  their  sumptuous  furnishings  ;  but 
that  the  grand  objects  of  its  existence  were  fresh  upon 
it,  and  that  the  morning  dew  was  still  lying  upon  life. 
Now,  when  you  see  the  soul  thus  oblivious  of  its  years, 
not  knowing  that  it  has  any,  do  you  not  see  that  3'ou 
are  sighting  an  energj^  with  the  instincts  of  immor- 
tality ? 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  amid  all  the  changes  that 
come  over  us  and  go  through  us,  there  is  a  persistent 
consciousness  of  the  same  selfhood.  There  is  a  cen- 
tral fixed  /,  about  which  the  outer  selfs  come  and  go. 
The  body  changes,  the  thought-world,  the  feelings,  the 
purposes.  We  go  off"  in  dreams,  in  visions,  in  insanity  ; 
but  returning  reason  gives  us  back  the  same  conscious 
self.  Does  not  this  persistent  personality  point  to  a 
selfhood  that  will  survive  all  changes  and  catastro- 
phes ? 

Again,  the  soul  has  telltale  thoughts.  It  thinks 
God,  Truth,  Goodness,  Infinity,  Eternity.  From  with- 
in itself  it  sends  out  thoughts,  like  the  feelers  of  insects, 
which  reach  over  into  the  eternal  world,  feel  the  reali- 
ties there,  take  their  form  and  proportion,  and  assure 
it  of  their  certainty  and  qualit}'.  And  when  you  see 
this,  do  you  not  see  the  very  energy  of  immortality  it- 
self in  its  forecast  outreachings  and  workings  ?  Now 
these  signs  and  tell-tale  revelations  do  not  merely  sug- 
gest a  future  existence,  without  assuring  us  of  its  per- 
manency, but  they  carry  us  grandly  and  triumphantly 


320  ISRAEL    EDSON    DWINELL. 

over  into  the  conviction  of  immortality  itself.  The 
soul  is  so  constituted  that  if  it  catches  sight  of  a 
future  existence  at  all,  as  awaiting  it,  it  stops  not  at 
any  half-waj-  point,  but  speaks  at  once  to  the  belief  of 
its  endless  existence.  If  man  is  so  great,  what  shall 
we  do  for  him  ?  Help  him  up  to  God,  to  truth,  to 
goodness,  to  duty,  and  so  fit  him  for  his  true  home. 
If  man  is  so  great,  what  shall  w'e  do  for  ourselves  ? 
Live  for  immortal it}^  our  own  and  that  of  others,  and 
so  secure  the  highest  end  of  existence. 


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